Oregon Ducks Breakout Player #8 - DJ James

On3 imageby:Joel Gunderson08/28/21

I’ve been sitting on this one for obvious reasons. Now, with the news Friday that DJ James and safety Jamal Hill are again with the team – albeit with no timetable for their return to games – it’s time to highlight the obvious: When James plays, there remains the potential for greatness.

There remain myriad questions concerning James. After officially being charged this past week, with initial hearings set for Wednesday, September 8, will his availability even be up to Mario Cristobal and the Oregon athletic department? By announcing their reinstatement, it’s safe to assume that Oregon has received enough information that they don’t feel long-term consequences are likely, but the extent of their delay to game action is still unknown.

“After consulting with campus and our administration, both Jamal Hill and DJ James will be reinstated for practice purposes, and they will not be available for the Fresno State game,” Mario Cristobal announced after Oregon’s Fast Friday practice inside Autzen Stadium. “They are practicing with us, and they will not be available for the Fresno State game. Practice and meetings.” 

The situation is unfortunate for many reasons. Maybe James and Hill come back from this better off, with life lessons learned, and become more mature citizens in the process. Situations such as this offer two paths: redemption or reclusion. They can run from the opportunity to better themselves, or they can embrace the soft landing that a place like Oregon offers. They have mentors. Resources. Education. Football. All of those are available to guide them forward. Let’s hope for their sake they take the better path. Not just for their current selves, but for their future ones, too. Both players possess immense potential, with NFL futures in the windshield.

Hill showed that promise last season when he stepped into the starting role vacated by Jevon Holland. James, backing up Mykael Wright and Deommodore Lenoir, again showed enough to ease fans’ concerns on depth at the corner position. Then in the best way, we heard nothing of Wright or James throughout spring and fall camps. Cornerbacks are a lot like offensive linemen – the less you hear of them, the better.

They were locking down and doing their job, making other peoples’ tasks more manageable.

Then the arrests came, and James was gone. Dontae Manning and Trikweze Bridges stepped in and now appear ready to perform until James returns; if they live up to their potential, this all might be a moot point.

But there’s a reason James was the consensus leader in replacing Lenoir. The 6-0 corner from Spanish Fort, Alabama, played admirably in 2019 as a true freshman, stepping in spot duty throughout the year as Oregon went on to win the Rose Bowl. Many expected him to take the starter role last season as the Ducks’ secondary went through their mass exodus, but Lenoir decided at the 11th hour to return, pushing James’ full impact out one more year.

Then he let the immaturity wash over, jeopardizing yet another season. Friday’s news that he and Hill are back for practice is at least a smoke signal from the HDC that things could turn out for the best. But he’s out of leeway. The soft landing only stays for so long. James has not fully blown his opportunity, but it’s undeniable that he has put himself behind the eight-ball. Bridges and Manning know that, and while they’re assuredly rooting for their teammate to return, they won’t relinquish that vacated spot easily.

Is James too talented to be left behind even when he’s fully cleared? Possibly.

Only time will tell. Now it’s up to all parties involved to see how this ends: For James to prove to the coaches that he’s learned from his mistake; for the legal portion to play out; for Manning and Bridges to hold onto the spot or let it slip through their fingers.

Oregon will not James or Hill on Saturday, September 4. That much we know.

After that, all bets are off.

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