Will James

Preseason All-Big 12 Team · Preseason All-Big 12 Team by Athlon Sports (First Team), Phil Steele Magazine (First Team), Pro Football Network (Third Team) · Bronco Nagurski Award Watch List · Bednarik Award Watch List · Panini Senior Bowl 300 · Dave Campbell Magazine Preseason All-Texas First Team Started all 13 games at cornerback · All-Big 12 Second Team · All-Texas Second Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football · PFF National Team of the Week (Nov. 24) · Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 24) · Led the Cougars in interceptions (3), turnovers gained (4) and forced fumbles (2) · One of two Cougars to block a kick and one of four to recover a fumble · Eight pass breakups placed second on the Cougars · 77.8 PFF defensive grade ranked third on the team · 78.1 PFF coverage grade ranked third on the team · Earned a 92.7 defense grade and 93.1 coverage grade against TCU (Nov. 22) · Eight 70+ tackling grades · Five 70+ coverage grades · Four 70+ defense grades · Tallied two games with 5+ tackles and multiple tackles in 11 of 13 games Spent 2024 season at Southern Miss · Began collegiate career at Mississippi State (2023) · Appeared in all 12 games including 10 starts in '24 · Seven starts at right cornerback; five starts at left cornerback · 754 snaps played · 644 snaps defensively including 615 at wide corner · Led Southern Miss with seven passes defended · Seven passes defended ranked sixth nationally among freshmen · Seven passes defended were second-most by Southern Miss freshman since 2000 · 35.0 tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss · Tackles in 11 of 12 games · Multi-tackle performances 10 times · Over his final six games: 23 tackles and six passes defended · 79.8 PFF run-defense grade led all Southern Miss defenders · 69.7 PFF defensive grade ranked second among Southern Miss defenders · Redshirted as true freshman at Mississippi State in 2023 Prepped at Theodore · Three-star prospect by 247Sports · State of Alabama's No. 54-ranked prospect · Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game participant · Missed half of senior season due to injury · Returned to help guide Theodore to a 13-1 record · Program reached Class 6A semifinals · Played offense due to injuries in quarterbacks win over St. Paul's · Five carries for 151 yards and three rushing TDs vs. St. Paul's · Rushing TDs of 67 yards, 62 yards and 13 yards Dream job outside of football: real estate · Something people don't know about him: he loves motorsport · Brother, Shemar James, played football at Florida and was a 5th round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft · One word to describe him on the field: amazing · If he could eat one food for the rest of his life: seafood · Favorite childhood memory: park ball · Sports hero: Julio Jones · Gameday ritual: listen to gospel music