FAMU football's RJ Johnson III gets SWAC, HBCU awards for 4-TD masterclass at Alabama A&M
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Have a day, RJ Johnson III.
The Florida A&M football quarterback was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his four-touchdown showing versus Alabama A&M last Saturday, Nov. 15.
Johnson shared the award with Texas Southern quarterback KJ Cooper.
Johnson was also named BOXTOROW’s outright HBCU National Player of the Week.
The redshirt sophomore had three passing touchdowns and rushed for one during the Rattlers’ 26-23 Week 12 triumph over Alabama A&M.
Two of Johnson’s touchdown passes went to wide receiver Kenari Wilcher. His third and final touchdown pass was a 27-yarder to receiver Jalen ‘Speedy’ Rogers, which ended up being the game-winner with 8:50 left in the game.
Johnson’s rushing touchdown was on a seven-yard scramble in the back-and-forth game.
For the season, Johnson has completed 173 of 263 passing attempts, 66 percent, for 2,086 yards, thrown 14 touchdowns against just one interception in nine games as a first-year starter. His completions, completion percentage, and yards are all second in the SWAC.
The Atlanta native, who transferred to FAMU from Toledo this season, also adds 54 rushing attempts for 277 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Led by Johnson, the FAMU offense has surged as the Rattlers have won four of their last five games. Those four victories have seen the Orange and Green average 33.25 points per game against Alcorn State, Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Alabama A&M, all bottom-tier SWAC teams this season.
The lone loss in the last five was a 41-16 pummeling by SWAC East frontrunner and defending Black College Football National Champion, Jackson State.
FAMU will be at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 22, for the annual Florida Classic rivalry game versus the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (5-6, 4-3 in SWAC). It’ll be Johnson’s Florida Classic debut.
The Rattlers have beaten the Wildcats in four straight Florida Classics, dating back to 2021.
Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ESPN+ will televise the game while Tallahassee radio station 96.1 JAMZ provides additional commentary.
Florida A&M (5-5, 4-2 in SWAC) vs Bethune-Cookman (5-6, 4-3 in SWAC) ― Florida Classic
- When: Saturday, Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
- TV/Radio: ESPN+, 96.1 JAMZ
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida A&M football QB RJ Johnson named SWAC, HBCU Player of the Week
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