DARIUS JAMES

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – 6’5″ – 319 LBS – KILLEEN (HARKER HEIGHTS)

NO ONE TRULY KNOWS what goes on in the mind of a teenager. Trying to figure out the reasoning behind their decisions is simply an exercise in futility. Darius James, a bonecrunching, massive offensive lineman from Harker Heights, had several lifealtering decisions to make after his grandmother — the woman who’d raised him — passed away during his sophomore year of high school. Football was one of those decisions, and it’s potential for providing a college education and a new life kept James on the straight and narrow.

The 6’6”, 330-pounder was widely …

[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]

recruited and is the only five-star signee in the
Longhorns’ 2013 class. Most of the jaw-dropping video on James
came before his senior year. He missed most of the 2012 campaign after breaking his left
foot during the first game of the season. That injury, which kept James out of action until the playoffs, came after he broke his right foot the previous spring. “I worked harder last offseason than I’ve ever had so I could come out and have a great senior year,” James said. “It was tough knowing what I could do for the team if I was healthy and on the field.”

A center for Harker Heights (as well as a defensive tackle and defensive end), James
could play any of the three interior positions for Texas — however, he’ll begin his work over the ball. In high school, few teams lined up players in front of him at nose tackle, allowing James to use his speed to get blocks against linebackers and downfield versus defensive backs James participated in the 2013 Under Armour All-American game, where he wowed scouts with his ability to hold his own at times at offensive tackle.

In essence, he played out of position against some of the nation’s top-prep edge rushers, in despite of carrying excess weight gained due to his injury. For a player his size, James has received recognition for moving well. He also possesses good flexibility and the ability to come off the ball low and hard on a consistent basis. “James isn’t your typical high school center,” Greg Powers of Scout.com said. “He’s huge, and makes it to the second level with ease. He has quick feet, and is a devastating pull blocker. His feet rarely stop moving at the point of contact and that allows him to stay on blocks until the whistle
blows.”

James credits his grandmother as the biggest influence in his life. “She was like my mother,” James told Hookem.com. “She did everything for me. Whether it was learning to tie my shoes or running for a touchdown, she was always there for me.” When his grandmother passed, James had a rough time.

Fortunately, he had people that cared enough about him to ensure he had a safe place to live and that he kept his academics on track. Other schools called, but James kept his verbal commitment to the Longhorns. “I looked at it like being in a relationship,” James said. “Texas felt like a family. Everything going on there and the fact they’re building a good offensive line gave me a good feeling. [Going to Texas] was the right thing to do.”

James will join two other players from Harker Heights — redshirt freshman OL Camrhon Hughes and his brother, fellow 2013 signing classmate Naashon Hughes — on the 40 Acres. “It was big to know you had somebody there that you could trust,” James said. “At the end of the day, you have to make your own decision, but knowing they’d be there made a difference. They helped me feel comfortable with Texas.”

[/s2If]
[s2If current_user_is_not(s2member_level2) OR current_user_is_not(s2member_level3) OR current_user_is_not(s2member_level5) OR current_user_is_not(s2member_level6)]

The rest of this article is available to Digital Subscribers only. Login or Subscribe to continue reading.
[/s2If]