D3football.com Names James a Third-Team All-American

2014 D3football.com All-America Team

Brandon James of The College of Wooster was selected to the D3football.com All-America Third Team, when the website announced its 16th annual group of award winners Friday night prior to Stagg Bowl XLII, the NCAA Div. III national championship game.

While James excelled throughout his career as a safety, the 5-10, 200-pound senior was recognized for his effort on special teams this season. James played a number of key roles for Wooster on those units, as he led the North Coast Athletic Conference in punt return average most of the year (finished second with a 7.7 average), blocked one kick (a field goal at No. 11 ranked Wabash College), served as a part-time kickoff returner (25.0 average), and was the punt protector, possibly his biggest contribution. Not only did he help the Fighting Scot avoid any blocked punts, James successfully executed two fakes, taking the snap and going 46 yards in the Wabash game and rushing 66 yards for a touchdown against Allegheny College.

For his career, James accumulated 303 tackles (ninth-most in school history), 11 interceptions (tied for sixth in school history), 13 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards (994). Maybe most impressive, James was twice selected by his peers to serve as a team captain, gaining the honor both his junior and senior seasons.

The 2014 D3football.com All-America Team, one of just two recognized by the NCAA for inclusion in its record book (the American Football Coaches Association is the other), consisted of 104 members.