Daniel Richardson wasn’t promised anything when he transferred to Florida A&M despite an FBS background.
The Rattlers, which won the SWAC and Celebration Bowl without him last season, had already featured a roster that included former high-level Division I players.
So, Richardson, who previously played at Central Michigan and Florida Atlantic before committing to FAMU in the offseason, was told right away he had to earn his keep to replace SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Jeremy Moussa as the starter.
“A lot of guys who were here before came from FBS programs,” he said Tuesday. “(Offensive lineman) Jalen Goss told me, ‘You’re coming from an FBS program, they don’t care. You have to work your way up. You have to earn a spot here.'”
To do that, Richardson had to beat out Junior Muratovic, a redshirt junior in his fourth year with the program who was already intimately familiar with the Rattlers offense.
As fall camp wore on, the battle between the two had been so close that first-year head coach James Colzie waited until Monday — five days before the Rattlers season opener against Norfolk State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge — to decide Richardson would start.
“I was definitely excited. Always excited for the opportunity,” Richardson said about being told he was the starter. “At the end of the day, you got to get the job done somehow.”
𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝟭 𝗔𝗦 𝗤𝗕𝟭.#FAMU | #Rattlers | #RELOAD | #REPEAT pic.twitter.com/xxFNMcEELe
— Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB) August 21, 2024
Daniel Richardson ready to go as QB1
Before winning the job at FAMU, Richardson played in 11 games for FAU in 2023. He threw for 2,001 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for the Owls.
But the Miami, Florida native played his best football at Central Michigan where he threw for 5,336 yards and 43 touchdowns while completing 59 percent of his passes over three seasons.
Having already proved he can win a quarterback competition, Richardson’s next goal is to cement that he can continue Florida A&M’s winning standard. And that will start on Saturday at Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium in a nationally televised primetime game.
“I’m very happy. I’m excited,” he said. “I’m ready to get the show on the road.”
