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Jamal Hailey showed signs of brilliance on the football field in 2025.
Top of mind was when the speedy Florida A&M running back scampered for 157 yards and three touchdowns during a 43-35 thriller against the Southern Jaguars last October. The Western Michigan transfer was awarded the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Newcomer of the Week for the outing.
The redshirt senior hopes those performances become a weekly occurrence this year.
A season ago, Hailey finished with 84 carries for 516 rushing yards and added 31 receptions for 199 receiving yards. He scored nine all-purpose touchdowns for the Rattlers. Hailey was a rotational running back option behind last year’s starter, Thad Franklin Jr., who graduated.
“I just believe in the work and the process of what it takes to be that type of guy,” Hailey said. “Just having those personal goals of not only wanting to be one of the top running backs in HBCU, but all of college football. I’m very process-driven. If I do my job, I don’t really worry about the numbers; I should exceed the numbers.”
Hailey could’ve played elsewhere this fall.
After FAMU did away with the head coach who recruited him, James Colzie III, Hailey, and many other Rattlers planned to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal to weigh their options.
The 5-foot-11, 189-pounder ultimately chose to stay with the Orange and Green after the school hired its former record-setting quarterback, Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., as its 20th full-time head football coach.
“Well, for him, it was his decision,” Gray recalled.
“We as a staff were new. He didn’t know us from a can of paint, so he had to trust that we were going to have his best interest. Once he decided to make that decision, we started to love him up and make sure he understood that we wanted him here. He’s a part of this heartbeat. And we’re looking forward to the things that he’ll do this fall.”
After offensive inconsistencies in 2025, Hailey will now be a key piece to Gray’s fast-paced offense, similar to the Gulf Coast Offense.
Hailey’s ability to break free on handoffs and catch out of the backfield is tailor-made for it.
He proved that on the opening drive of FAMU’s spring football game back in April. Quarterback Isaiah Knowles tossed a short pass to the running back, who ‘shaked and baked’ defenders before outpacing them for a 73-yard touchdown.
“I just think that it plays to my advantage,” Hailey said, “Fast tempo is something I like to do.”
Playing for FAMU in the Sunshine State gave the Benton Harbor native, Hailey, a fresh start.
While Gray has known him for only a few months, he is proud of his starting running back’s resilience and choice to leave his past environments behind to pursue his NCAA Division I football career.
“He’s a great kid,” the FAMU head coach said. “He comes from a lot of issues that he’s worked through as a man. For us to have him here and know what he’s been through, it’s a tremendous thing that he’s where he is today. Because if you hear his story, he would have been able to be somewhere else, not doing good things, and you would have understood.
Hailey will sport the No. 2, switching from No. 28, as he looks to become one of the top rushers in the SWAC and a known name in the Football Championship Subdivision. FAMU’s No. 2 jersey for offense was last worn by wide receiver Goldie Lawrence, who transferred up to play for Coastal Carolina of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“In high school, I really wanted number two. But I believe we had a quarterback that had number two, so I was never able to get the number I truly wanted,” Hailey explained his decision to change numbers. “It was the same thing leading into my college transfer. I wanted two when I first got here. It was already taken. I’m really in a position where I can have the number, so I’m grateful.”
FAMU is currently in preseason training camp ahead of the 2026 season. Camp ends on Aug. 22, and on Aug. 29, the Rattlers host the Albany State Golden Rams on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat under the USA TODAY Network.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why Jamal Hailey feels primed to break out as FAMU football's lead RB
Continue reading...
Top of mind was when the speedy Florida A&M running back scampered for 157 yards and three touchdowns during a 43-35 thriller against the Southern Jaguars last October. The Western Michigan transfer was awarded the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Newcomer of the Week for the outing.
The redshirt senior hopes those performances become a weekly occurrence this year.
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A season ago, Hailey finished with 84 carries for 516 rushing yards and added 31 receptions for 199 receiving yards. He scored nine all-purpose touchdowns for the Rattlers. Hailey was a rotational running back option behind last year’s starter, Thad Franklin Jr., who graduated.
“I just believe in the work and the process of what it takes to be that type of guy,” Hailey said. “Just having those personal goals of not only wanting to be one of the top running backs in HBCU, but all of college football. I’m very process-driven. If I do my job, I don’t really worry about the numbers; I should exceed the numbers.”
Hailey could’ve played elsewhere this fall.
After FAMU did away with the head coach who recruited him, James Colzie III, Hailey, and many other Rattlers planned to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal to weigh their options.
The 5-foot-11, 189-pounder ultimately chose to stay with the Orange and Green after the school hired its former record-setting quarterback, Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., as its 20th full-time head football coach.
“Well, for him, it was his decision,” Gray recalled.
“We as a staff were new. He didn’t know us from a can of paint, so he had to trust that we were going to have his best interest. Once he decided to make that decision, we started to love him up and make sure he understood that we wanted him here. He’s a part of this heartbeat. And we’re looking forward to the things that he’ll do this fall.”
After offensive inconsistencies in 2025, Hailey will now be a key piece to Gray’s fast-paced offense, similar to the Gulf Coast Offense.
Hailey’s ability to break free on handoffs and catch out of the backfield is tailor-made for it.
He proved that on the opening drive of FAMU’s spring football game back in April. Quarterback Isaiah Knowles tossed a short pass to the running back, who ‘shaked and baked’ defenders before outpacing them for a 73-yard touchdown.
“I just think that it plays to my advantage,” Hailey said, “Fast tempo is something I like to do.”
Michigan native and FAMU football RB Jamal Hailey chases top SWAC, FCS billing
Playing for FAMU in the Sunshine State gave the Benton Harbor native, Hailey, a fresh start.
You must be registered for see images attach
While Gray has known him for only a few months, he is proud of his starting running back’s resilience and choice to leave his past environments behind to pursue his NCAA Division I football career.
“He’s a great kid,” the FAMU head coach said. “He comes from a lot of issues that he’s worked through as a man. For us to have him here and know what he’s been through, it’s a tremendous thing that he’s where he is today. Because if you hear his story, he would have been able to be somewhere else, not doing good things, and you would have understood.
Hailey will sport the No. 2, switching from No. 28, as he looks to become one of the top rushers in the SWAC and a known name in the Football Championship Subdivision. FAMU’s No. 2 jersey for offense was last worn by wide receiver Goldie Lawrence, who transferred up to play for Coastal Carolina of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“In high school, I really wanted number two. But I believe we had a quarterback that had number two, so I was never able to get the number I truly wanted,” Hailey explained his decision to change numbers. “It was the same thing leading into my college transfer. I wanted two when I first got here. It was already taken. I’m really in a position where I can have the number, so I’m grateful.”
FAMU is currently in preseason training camp ahead of the 2026 season. Camp ends on Aug. 22, and on Aug. 29, the Rattlers host the Albany State Golden Rams on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Florida A&M football 2026 schedule
- Saturday, Aug. 29: vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TV
- Sunday, Sept. 6: vs. South Carolina State, Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium, 3 p.m., ESPNU
- Thursday, Sept. 10: at Miami, 8 p.m., ACC Network
- Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Tennessee State, 7 p.m., HBCU GO
- Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Alabama A&M (SWAC), 7 p.m., SWAC TV
- Saturday, Oct. 3: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 10: at Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
- Saturday, Oct. 17: at Jackson State (SWAC), 3 p.m., ESPN Network
- Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC/Homecoming), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
- Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Southern (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
- Saturday, Nov. 7: at Alcorn State (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
- Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TV
- Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic), 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat under the USA TODAY Network.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why Jamal Hailey feels primed to break out as FAMU football's lead RB
Continue reading...
