A piece of Florida A&M football history was given back to Rattlers running back Kelvin Dean Jr.

After reporting late Monday night that his Southwestern Athletic Conference championship ring had been stolen from his car, Dean announced Saturday morning via X/Twitter that the memorabilia had been returned to him.

Dean told the Tallahassee Democrat he received a call Friday night from someone who picked up his SWAC title ring.

The Rattlers ball carrier said he met with the person, who wishes to remain anonymous, and got his SWAC championship ring back after five days.

“A huge thank you to the Tallahassee community for their help. My ring was recovered. Love you guys,” posted Dean, a Rickards High School graduate.

In April, FAMU gave its football players the $450 rings for winning the program's first SWAC championship with a 35-14 win over Prairie View A&M on Dec. 2, 2023, at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Dean transferred from Florida Atlantic University to the FAMU football team last season and made a key contribution to the Rattlers.

As a redshirt senior, he scored 554 all-purpose yards and six total touchdowns for the Rattlers.

To cap off last season, Dean was named the Celebration Bowl's Offensive Most Valuable Player after helping the Rattlers to a 30-26 win over Howard on December 16, 2023, winning FAMU's 17th Black College Football national championship.

Dean, now a graduate student, will represent FAMU along with Rattlers head coach James Colzie III and cornerback Kendall Bohler at SWAC Media Day in Birmingham, Alabama on July 16.

FAMU opens its 2024 season on August 24 with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Norfolk State at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.

Florida A&M Rattlers football schedule for 2024

• August 24 against Norfolk State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta*, 7:30 p.m., ABC

• August 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+

• September 7 in Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network

• September 21 in Troy, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• September 28 against Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+

• Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network

• Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network

• Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4:00 p.m., ESPN+

• November 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• November 16 against Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m.

• November 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network

• November 30: FCS playoffs begin

• Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, LOCATION/TEAMS to be announced, ESPN2

• December 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, TEAMS TBA, 12pm, ABC

BOLD = SWAC

* = Neutral location

Gerald Thomas III covers Florida A&M University athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him via email at [email protected] or through the app formerly known as Twitter. @3peatgee.

Nobody covers the Rattlers like the Tallahassee Democrat. Subscribe at the link at the top of the page and don't miss a moment.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Stolen SWAC title ring returned to FAMU RB Kelvin Dean after 5 days