Osceola's James limited by late start with Crimson Tide

BOB HOLT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Harold James knows he'll be in for the first play of Saturday night's Arkansas-Alabama game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
James, an Alabama freshman linebacker from Osceola, plays on both the kickoff return and kickoff coverage teams for the Crimson Tide
"It's going to be exciting to play Arkansas, especially Bo Mosley," said James, referring to the Razorbacks' freshman cornerback who was his Osceola High School teammate. "It's a big game for me and a big game for our team."
For now, James' playing time is limited to the Tide's special teams.
Alabama defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said he believes James could be the team's third- or fourth-best outside linebacker, but isn't yet ready to play in the system because of his lack of experience.
Linebacker is a new position for James -- who played safety, running back and tight end at Osceola -- and he missed the first two weeks of preseason practice before Alabama officials ruled him as academically eligible.
"I'd give anything if he could have gotten in here for the start of two-a-days," Tide Coach Mike DuBose said.
Instead, James had to watch practice.
"It was frustrating walking around here in shorts and jeans, watching everybody hit and run the plays," he said. "Everybody would come up to me and say, 'It's going to be all right, keep your head up,' and now I've finally got the chance to play."
Johnson said James, 6-1 and 218 pounds, is a natural to play on special teams because of his speed and hitting ability.
"Harold has tremendous potential and I wish we could play him at outside linebacker now," Johnson said. "But by the time he got on the practice field he was so far behind, he really has not had a chance to play in our regular package of defense."
James, who made the Democrat-Gazette's 1997 Super Sophomore Team and was an All-Arkansas pick in 1998 and 1999, was not offered a scholarship by Arkansas.
Razorbacks Coach Houston Nutt said he didn't believe James would be academically eligible and James didn't show interest in Arkansas.
"He didn't come to a lot of things we invited him to, like our senior camp and our games," Nutt said. "So, we just didn't feel good about it.
"But there's no animosity. I wish him all the best in the world."
James said he wanted to play out of state, and felt Alabama was the best choice for him. He said he was recruited by Alabama to play fullback, but now believes linebacker is the position that best suits him for the long term.
"It's a big change playing linebacker, and it's tough, but they're pushing me along," James said. "I'll get it, and I think I'll stick at linebacker and in the long run it will be good for me."
Alabama has an open date on its schedule between playing South Carolina on Sept. 30 and Ole Miss on Oct. 14, and Johnson said he hopes to give James more practice reps at that time so he can see some playing time at linebacker.
"With some extra time to get ready for a game, that should be a big help to me," James said. "I've been working hard and studying hard, because I want to get out on the field and play more."
James wore No. 30 at Osceola, but that number is taken at Alabama by senior fullback Dustin McClintock. For the Tide, James wears No. 37 -- the number worn the previous four seasons by Shaun Alexander, the Tide's all-time leading rusher and first-round NFL Draft choice who is a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks.
"It' a real honor for me to wear No. 37," James said. "This is a big jersey number to fill, but I'm going to try and fill it the best way I can."

This article was published on Saturday, September 23, 2000

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