Florida A&M has found its signal-caller for the 2026 season.
Redshirt senior Isaiah Knowles has been named the Rattlers’ starting quarterback under first-year head coach Quinn Gray Sr., giving FAMU a proven winner and an experienced leader under center.
In 2025 at Albany State, Knowles quarterbacked Albany State to the 36th-best scoring offense in Division II as the Golden Rams won the SIAC title and helped Albany State to the NCAA Division II semifinals and a school-best 12-2 record.
“We’ve done some good things together, and hopefully we can continue to do that,” Gray said.
Knowles started two of Albany State’s three NCAA Division II Championship playoff games in 2025, a 35-20 win over Valdosta State on Nov. 22 and a 14-12 win over Benedict College on Nov. 29.
He completing 43 of 66 passes (65.1 percent) for 508 yards and adding 97 rushing yards as the Golden Rams advanced to the D-II championship regional finals for the first time in program history.
In 26 career games, Knowles recorded 5,585 passing yards on 63% completions, scoring 60 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 577 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Knowles, who transferred to FAMU in January, is excited to work with Gray again.
“Coach Gray is a great guy off the field,” Knowles told the FAMU athletic website. “Building that relationship with him off the field and knowing the kind of father, husband, and man he is allowed us to click on the field. Any chance I get, I ask him questions about it to understand schemes and learn more.
As someone who wants to go to play professional football, him teaching me progression reads, understanding why defenses do what they do, and teaching me how to be the ultimate leader of men is something that I’ve been blessed to be a part of.”
