Jordan James Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
School: Oregon
Class: Junior
Position: RB
HT: 5’9
WT: 205 lbs
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY JORDAN JAMES FILM BREAKDOWN
Background: Jordan James was a 4-star running back in the class of 2022 out of Nashville, Tennessee. James was a top 5 player in Tennessee and a top 20 running back nationally. James played for Oakland High School, where he was twice named an all-state selection. His prolific career led Oakland to two consecutive state championship games and two consecutive wins. Jordan was also named League MVP as a senior. Jordan James committed to play for Oregon over Georgia, Tennessee, Penn State, and others.
College: James appeared in every game as a freshman for the Ducks. He was used as a short yardage specialist, rushing for 189 yards and 5 touchdowns. As a sophomore, James gained a more prominent role in the offense. He averaged 7 yards per carry and had a total of 759 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. 2024 was Jordan’s breakout season. The backfield was truly his in Eugene and he showed what he can do. He ran for 1,184 yards and 15 touchdowns on his way to being named a Second Team All-Big 10 selection.
Strengths: Dan Lanning said it best, “Jordan James runs pissed off”. Despite possessing a smaller frame, James has no problem running through defenders. He plays through contact and it is nearly impossible to bring down on initial contact. He is an extremely strong runner with a powerful body to knock defenders on their back as he runs through them. His legs keep moving, even with defenders all over him. James is an explosive runner with a quick burst to shoot between the tackles. James has a way of finding yards in a muddy field where others cannot. He has elite lateral quickness with the ability to cut on a dime. This quickness is shown at the line of scrimmage where one cut by James leads to him accelerating into the second level of the defense. Jordan displays patience in the backfield, relying on his vision and athletic tools to exploit gaps once they appear. As a receiver, James can do some damage in the flats and close to the line of scrimmage in the screen game.
Weaknesses: James is a smaller back, he may not be able to handle the workload of a workhorse running back. He also does not have the home run speed to reach that top speed that cannot be caught. If he breaks free in open space, he is susceptible to being hawked down by the faster defensive backs. James is a smaller running back, but his skillset is that of a between the tackles runner. He struggles to get outside and rarely burns a defense around the edge.
Conclusion: Jordan James can be a dynamic option for an offense in a running back room. He has an interesting skillset for his size and should not be counted out because of it or his lack of elite speed. His ability to cut and run through contact at the line of scrimmage is unmatched.
Scheme Fit: Gap Rushing Offense
Ideal Role: Running Back by committee
Best Team Fits: LAC, BUF, DAL
Player Comparison: Bucky Irving
Player Grade: Round 3 (78.6)
