James carries on fast, successful family tradition

Published Thursday, August 25, 2005

Brian James knows what it's like to scan for the littlest hole in a defense on a humid Friday night and he knows how it feels to get buried by a blitzing linebacker.

But sometimes, he's can't remember seeing anything like the show that his son Brandon puts on from late August to December.

"I actually don't tell him that a lot," Brian said. "I want him to stay hungry, but at times, it is kind of eye popping."

Brian, a former St. Augustine High School running back/receiver was good in his prime at SAHS in 1986 and '87, and throughout college at Samford. He actually held two receiving records (most catches, yards) until 2002, although his 18.2-yards per catch average is still second in program history. But the James family legacy doesn't end in the Samford University record book because Brandon is about to shoot out of the huddle and into his final season with the Yellow Jackets. And if this season even slightly resembles Brandon's last two varsity years, look out. In those seasons, Brandon has scored a combined 27 touchdowns and accounted for 2,041 yards from scrimmage. His moves, speed and sheer power have been well-documented ever since he lit it up as a freshman on the junior varsity team, taking six kicks back for touchdowns. And as Brandon has grown up, he's only gotten better.

As a sophomore, he scored 11 touchdowns and ran for 556 yards. Three TDs and 199 of those yards came in Brandon's coming-out party against Nease, a 52-35 win. Each of James' TDs (55, 48 and 94-yard kick return) was a forecast for his marvelous career that has been all about dynamic plays.

Especially against Nease.

He had a 58-yard TD run against the Panthers in the first installment of 2004 and a 44-yard catch and make Nease players miss TD to trigger a huge SAHS rally.

That 44-yarder helped the Yellow Jackets all but erase a 17-point, late third-quarter deficit in what ended up as a 33-30 win. It remains one of James' most memorable varsity plays.

So what's it like being one of the fastest athletes in the state (fourth in the 100-meter dash at the state track meet) slicing up defenses on Fridays in the fall?

"Every time something happens, it's like slow motion," he said. "It's like in the Matrix, it's all going so slow. When you get back in the open field, it speeds back up. A lot happens on field, but I can't tell you what."

Brandon can say one thing definitively. When it comes to comparing him with his father in high school, there's no comparison between dad and son.

"I always let him know that I am better (than he was)," Brandon said laughing.

Brian disagrees.

"I still think I'll get him in my prime. He's definitely faster than I was, but I still think in my prime I'm better."