University of Minnesota Athletics
2015 Football Roster
Craig James
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Position:
- DB
- Hometown:
- Edwardsville, Ill.
- High School:
- Edwardsville HS
2015 - SOPHOMORE?SEASON: Played in five games - started as team's primary punt returner, returning 12 punts in first five contests - made five tackles on defense and special teams - missed final half of the season with an injury. Game-by-Game: Saw action but did not record any statistics versus TCU - registered two tackles and returned a pair of punts for nine yards at Colorado State - returned seven punts for 11 yards and added a tackle versus Kent State - tallied three punt returns against Ohio - recorded a pair of tackles at Northwestern.
2014 - FRESHMAN?SEASON: Played in all 13 games - returned punts in the final nine games of the season after Marcus Jones suffered an injury - returned 16 punts 139 yards - tallied eight tackles and three pass breakups. Game-by-Game: Notched one tackle and broke up two passes as he made Minnesota and collegiate debut against Eastern Illinois - made two tackles against Middle Tennessee - played at TCU and against San Jose State where he also fair caught one punt - made one tackle and returned four punts for 66 yards at Michigan - returned three punts and broke up one pass against Northwestern - made two tackles and returned one punt 19 yards against Purdue - returned one punt 6 yards at Illinois - returned one punt 11 yards and asssisted on one tackle against Iowa - played against Ohio State - returned a punt 12 yards at Nebraska - returned four punts at Wisconsin - returned one punt 10 yards and made one tackle against Missouri.
OVERVIEW: Listed as a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports - ESPN ranked him as the No. 27 player in Illinois, while 247Sports had him at No. 32 - the No. 48 defensive back in the nation accoring to ESPN, No. 69 by 247Sports and No. 80 by Scout.
HIGH?SCHOOL: Attended Edwardsville High School - helped lead his team to a 12-1 record as a senior, as the Tigers advanced to the Class 7A semifinals - named first team All-Southwestern Conference, 2013 St. Louis "All-American" Football Team and honorable mention All-State - made 28 tackles - picked off four passes and broke up three more - returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns - second-team all-state defensive back for Class 7A, first team All-Southwestern Conference and first team All-St. Louis Metro as a junior - made 23 tackles, grabbed six interceptions and recovered two fumbles - scored three of his six touchdowns on returns (two on kickoff returns and one on an interception return) - team went 10-2 and advanced to the Class 7A quarterfinals - as a junior was a member of school's 800-meter relay team, which won a state title with a time of 1:27.98.
PERSONAL: Born April 29, 1996 - son of Pamela Beverly-James - has one brother, Cameron, who played wide receiver at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill.
