FAMU football QB Dustin Fletcher starts vs Miami after Isaiah Knowles injury

Florida A&M football has been forced to make a quarterback change after starter Isaiah Knowles was ruled out for the season with a thumb injury .

Backup Dustin Fletcher led the Rattler offense on the field for their first possession against the Miami Hurricanes on Thursday, Sept. 10, for a Week 2 "money game" at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Fletcher replaces Knowles, who left Sept. 6's 31-13 Orange Blossom Classic loss against the third quarter after hurting his right throwing hand after taking a hit from a South Carolina State defender. Fletcher subbed in and completed 6-of-8 passes for 68 yards.

And now, he's responsible for operating head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr.'s offense against the defending College Football Playoff runners-up and No. 7-ranked team in the USA TODAY top 25 .

FAMU football vs South Carolina State Orange Blossom Classic, Photos

Who is FAMU football quarterback Dustin Fletcher ?

Fletcher transferred to the Rattlers from The Citadel .

The graduate student from Flint, Michigan, also previously played at Northern Illinois.

Out of Carman-Ainsworth High School, Fletcher set every single passing record for the Cavaliers. He was ranked as one of the top 30 high school quarterbacks in the nation and No. 1 in Michigan as an all-state selection.

Fletcher was a summertime commit for the Orange and Green and was named the second-string quarterback behind Knowles when FAMU released its initial depth chart for August's season opener against Albany State , a game in which he also appeared in briefly.

The remaining quarterbacks on FAMU's roster are James Hayes, Dante Howell, and Armond Parker.

FAMU (1-1) at Miami (1-0) is being televised on ACC Network, and you can follow along for live updates here .

Florida A&M (1-1) at Miami (1-0) ― Week 2

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Florida A&M football scores and full 2026 schedule

Saturday, Aug. 29: FAMU 20, Albany State 7

Sunday, Sept. 6 (Orange Blossom Classic): South Carolina State 31, FAMU 13

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. 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 GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .