I-AA Player Moving up the board

Here is a player we all know but don't realize how good he is. He has a 2nd round grade from the NFL and if he picks off more than 7 passes this year he has my Buck Buchanan Award vote!

6 Shannon James (Captain)
Defensive Back
RSr.-3V • 5-10 • 196
Stratford, Conn.
Bunnell H.S.

On James: Reining First Team All-American, who has been named a preseason First Team All-American by numerous outlets … Named captain for the 2005 season along with Serge Tikum and Colin Stoetzel … Ranks fourth all-time at UMass in career interceptions (16) … Starting free safety who has outstanding vision, quick feet and a nose for the football … Moved from corner to free safety entering the 2004 season … His 16 interceptions are the most among any active player in all of Division I-AA … Leads all seniors in the nation in career interceptions -- regardless of division … Has started all 36 games of his career … Switched to No. 6 from 34 entering the 2004 season to give the expected entire starting secondary all single-digit numbers.

2004 Honors:
Led the nation and Atlantic 10 in Interceptions (8) and Interceptions Per game (0.8)
Ranks first among all active college football players regardless of division with 16 career interceptions
Tied UMass record for interceptions in a season with 8.
Fourth all-time at UMass in career interceptions with 16.
2004 First Team All-American, Associated Press
2004 First Team All-American, Walter Camp Foundation
2004 First Team All-American, I-AA.org
2004 First Team All-American, The Sports Network
2004 First Team All-American, College Sports Report
2004 First Team All-American, Don Hansen Gazette
2004 First Team All-American, CSTV
2004 First Team Atlantic, Don Hansen Gazette
2004 New England Sports Writers All-Star Squad
Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
2004 A-10 Defensive Player of Year
2004 Atlantic 10 First Team
A-10 Defensive Player of Week (Oct. 17)
A-10 Defensive Player of Week (Oct. 3)
2004 Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team

As a redshirt junior in 2004: Buchanan Award Finalist as the Division I-AA Player of the Year … First Team All-American, Associated Press; First Team All-American, Walter Camp Foundation; First Team All-American, I-AA.org; First Team All-American, The Sports Network; First Team All-American, College Sports Report; First Team All-American, Don Hansen Gazette; First Team All-American, CSTV; First Team Atlantic 10, Don Hansen Gazette; New England Sports Writers All-Star Squad … Finished the season tied for first nationally in interceptions and first in the Atlantic 10 with eight in 10 games (0.80) -- per game average was second in the country … Eight interceptions in a season is tied for best single-season in UMass history with four other players … Started all 11 games making 75 tackles (63 solo), which was good for second on the team ... Had two games with 10 or more tackles this season … Twice named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Week – three times in his career … Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week (10/3) after his big game against Division I-A Boston College … Picked off two passes including a 47-yard return, setting up UMass’ only score at Boston College (10/2); also had seven tackles in the game, six solo … Honored as Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week (10/17) after posting two interceptions, seven tackles (one for loss) and two pass break-ups at New Hampshire (10/16) … His two pick effort was his third such game of the year … Picked off two Chris Brown passes vs. Colgate (9/11), marking first time in career he had a multi-interception game … Grabbed his third interception along with 10 tackles (7 solo) against Richmond (9/18) … Picked off eighth pass of the season at Rhode Island (10/23) along with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass break-up … Led team with 10 tackles, eight solo, at James Madison (10/9) … Made eight tackles at Northeastern (11/6) … Posted seven tackles, all solo, vs. Delaware (9/25).

As a redshirt sophomore in 2003: One of UMass’ top defensive backs … A third team All-Atlantic 10 selection … Earned second team All-East Region honors from Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette … Started all 13 games, playing both cornerback and free safety … Ranked fourth on the team with 100 total tackles, including 80 solo stops and four tackles for loss … Also recorded four interceptions, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery … Named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week, ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week following the victory at Villanova (10/25), in addition to winning the Gold Helmet from the New England Football Writers … Totaled nine tackles and an interception in the Villanova game, in addition to returning a fumble 39 yards for the game-winning touchdown with less than three minutes remaining … Earned Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week honors following the win over Northeastern (11/1) … Recorded eight tackles, including six solo stops and two tackles for loss, against Northeastern, while intercepting a pass with just over a minute remaining to seal the victory … Totaled 10 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the victory at William & Mary (10/11) … Made nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in the win over Rhode Island (11/22) … Had nine solo tackles and a pass breakup in the win over James Madison (9/27) … Made nine total tackles in the victory at Maine (9/20), with an interception and a pass breakup … Totaled nine tackles at Kansas State (9/13), including one tackle for loss … Posted eight total tackles against both Delaware (11/15) and Richmond (11/8) … Had seven tackles, including six solo stops, in the win over Hofstra (10/18) … Recorded six solo tackles and a pass breakup in the victory over New Hampshire (10/4) … Totaled six tackles in the season opener against Central Connecticut State (9/6), with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup … Posted two tackles, two pass breakups and an interception at Colgate (11/29) in the NCAA playoffs … Named preseason second team All-Atlantic 10 Conference.

As a redshirt freshman in 2002: The starter at free safety … Played in all 12 games on the season, starting every time … Ranked third on the team with 111 total tackles on the season, including 80 solo stops … Led the team in pass breakups with 10, while tying for the team lead in interceptions with four … Also recorded two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five tackles for loss … Named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week following the victory at James Madison (10/26) … Totaled nine tackles with a fumble recovery and a pass breakup at James Madison, in addition to rushing 48 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt … Made a team-high 13 tackles at Northeastern (9/21), while also forcing a fumble … Recorded 10 tackles with an interception and a pass breakup in the win over Maine (10/12) … Had 12 total tackles at New Hampshire (11/9), with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup … Totaled 11 tackles in the victory over Villanova (10/19) … Made 10 tackles with a tackle for loss and three pass breakups in the win over Delaware (11/2) … Recorded eight tackles in the victory at Rhode Island (11/23), with a forced fumble and a pass breakup … Had six tackles in the win at Richmond (10/5), with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup … Totaled seven tackles against Hofstra (11/16), with an interception, a pass breakup and a tackle for loss … Made eight tackles at North Carolina State (9/28), with one tackle for loss … Recorded eight tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery against AIC (9/14) … Had nine total tackles against Central Connecticut (9/7), with an interception.

As a freshman in 2001: Redshirted.

Before UMass: Played for coach Bob Mastroni at Bunnell High School … Totaled 55 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries during his senior year, where he served as team captain … Also rushed for 1,600 yards and scored 27 touchdowns on offense … Had career totals of 151 tackles, nine interceptions and six fumble recoveries, in addition to scoring 49 touchdowns, rushing for 2,500 yards and catching 19 passes for 210 yards … Set school records for career touchdowns (49), career rushing yards (2,500), single season rushing yards (1,600), single season touchdowns (27) and single game touchdowns (five) … Earned first team All-State honors from the New Haven Register and the Hartford Courant … Also named first team All-SWC and first team All-Connecticut Post … Earned All-State honors at second base on the baseball team … Also a member of the Bunnell basketball team.

Personal: Shannon Clayton James … Born December 28, 1983, in Bridgeport, Conn. … Son of Lorena James … Majoring in Sociology.

Career Statistics (Defense)
Year GP UT AT TT Sacks TFL Int PBU
2002 12/12 80 31 111 0-0 5-22 4-12 10
2003 13/13 80 20 100 0-0 4-10 4-30 5
2004 11/11 63 12 75 0-0 5.5-12 8-110 3
Totals 36/36 223 63 286 0-0 14.5-44 16-152 18

Career Statistics (Punt Returns)
Year GP No. Yds. Avg. TD Lg.
2002 12/12 1 2 2.0 0 2
2003 13/13 8 23 2.9 0 10
2004 11/11 0 0 0.0 0 0
Totals 36/36 9 25 2.8 0 10

CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 13 at Northeastern (9/21/02)
Interceptions: 2 three times (last at New Hampshire, 10/16/04)
Touchdowns: 1 fumble return for TD at Villanova (10/25/03)

While I'm all for defensive backs getting more recognition, I think this is the type of guy who could just not pan out at the next level. Frankly, if he didn't have 8 picks last year very few people outside of the A10 would know about him. Unfortunately being a d-back, teams will certainly not throw to his area as much in the future and even though he may be better this year than last, he could easily see the INT number go down and, as the Buchanan type awards are all stat based, he doesn't have very much of a chance of winning that award. UMass's poor run defense doesn't bode well for more chances at picks as well as some teams are just going to run as often as possible.

For the pro level, while he's a very good IAA player, where's he going to play in the NFL? You have him listed here at 5'10" 196 lbs - on the other thread you have him at 5'9" 206 pounds - either way, he's really short and not particularly big. Right now he's playing safety for UMass, which gives him a lot of freedom not to play straight cover as a cornerback - while he's fast, can he cover man-to-man on top receivers even at this level, let alone the NFL? If he can't cover in the NFL (which size-wise he's fine) is there anyway he could play safety at the next level? Just taking a look at the Eagles for instance, Brian Dawkins is 6'0" 210 and Michael Lewis is 6'1" 222 - seeing how college measurements always end up a bit smaller than NFL measurements, James is already too small to play safety in the NFL. Does anybody really know how well this guy can cover man-to-man?

Quote:

Originally Posted by GannonFan

While I'm all for defensive backs getting more recognition, I think this is the type of guy who could just not pan out at the next level. Frankly, if he didn't have 8 picks last year very few people outside of the A10 would know about him. Unfortunately being a d-back, teams will certainly not throw to his area as much in the future and even though he may be better this year than last, he could easily see the INT number go down and, as the Buchanan type awards are all stat based, he doesn't have very much of a chance of winning that award. UMass's poor run defense doesn't bode well for more chances at picks as well as some teams are just going to run as often as possible.

For the pro level, while he's a very good IAA player, where's he going to play in the NFL? You have him listed here at 5'10" 196 lbs - on the other thread you have him at 5'9" 206 pounds - either way, he's really short and not particularly big. Right now he's playing safety for UMass, which gives him a lot of freedom not to play straight cover as a cornerback - while he's fast, can he cover man-to-man on top receivers even at this level, let alone the NFL? If he can't cover in the NFL (which size-wise he's fine) is there anyway he could play safety at the next level? Just taking a look at the Eagles for instance, Brian Dawkins is 6'0" 210 and Michael Lewis is 6'1" 222 - seeing how college measurements always end up a bit smaller than NFL measurements, James is already too small to play safety in the NFL. Does anybody really know how well this guy can cover man-to-man?

this bio was from Umass, the other size is his actual size... he will move to CB... he is just like Nick Collins... some said the same thing about him this past year... he went 2nd round...james is this year's version of collins.

Isn't Collins a little bigger? He's listed as 5'11" and 206 lbs - besides, wasn't this one of the more suspect picks in the draft? A lot of services had Collins going second day at the earliest, not second round. Plus there were a lot of questions on how well he can make the transition from safety to a true corner. Sure, James could be a reach at a similar spot, but I'm not sure Collins is the best model to follow here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GannonFan

Isn't Collins a little bigger? He's listed as 5'11" and 206 lbs - besides, wasn't this one of the more suspect picks in the draft? A lot of services had Collins going second day at the earliest, not second round. Plus there were a lot of questions on how well he can make the transition from safety to a true corner. Sure, James could be a reach at a similar spot, but I'm not sure Collins is the best model to follow here.

Collins is one of those who will be like James. Both are gonna be 2-4 year projects but expect them both to play in the NFL.

I do think the transition will be a little hard but James is a much better player than Collins so I could see him 2nd round or 3rd round. I think Collins was a reach. I had him 4th-5th round on my final board.