Jordan James, Oregon: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

James was a four-star recruit from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn. in the class of 2022

Oregon’s Jordan James is a hard-nosed running back who plays with impressive competitive fire. He won’t blow anyone away with his long speed, but his rapid acceleration and downhill attacking mentality give him a nice floor as a prospect. James projects as a Day 3 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

Jordan James, RB Oregon: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from Nashville, Tenn.

Background: James was a four-star recruit from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn. in the class of 2022. He was the No. 196 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 241 for On3.com. James was an unranked four-star recruit for Rivals. ESPN ranked him 203rd in the nation with an 82 grade out of 100. He originally committed to Georgia before flipping to Oregon. James originally attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn. He lettered all four years in high school. James earned First Team All-State honors as a senior from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and was the Region 4-6A Most Valuable Player. He led Oakland to its second consecutive undefeated season and Tennessee 6A D-I State Championship. James carried the ball 187 times for 1,657 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 148 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air. He led Oakland to an undefeated mark, the Tennessee 6A D-I State Championship, and the 6A Region 3 Championship as a junior, earning First Team All-State honors from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association. James ended the season with 182 carries for 1,752 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also totaled 180 receiving yards and scored once through the air. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,099 yards and 18 touchdowns on 150 carries.

Injuries & Off-Field: Limited by injury vs. Maryland (2024), knocked out of the CFP game against Ohio State with a head injury

Awards: 2024 Second Team All-Big Ten

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, ball security, lateral explosiveness to survey and exchange gaps, patiently presses close to linemen on gap runs before accelerating past crashing defenders, sharp cuts upfield, gets north-south quickly, rapid acceleration, lateral cut and burst to out-leverage linebackers at the second level, accelerates quickly from full stop, doesn’t make bad plays worse, bend in hips to take some sharp angles, one-cut runner who goes full speed, runs hard, hits the hole at full force, lowers pad level to meet defenders in the hole, churns legs through contact, drives would-be tacklers forward for extra yards, drops shoulder to bury DBs, stiff arm, spins through contact, contact balance to shake off tackles at his hips and thighs, drops shoulder to deliver hits in pass pro

Cons: Heavy beneficiary of Oregon’s o-line, limited ability to escape contact in the backfield, not much creativity when approaching the line, inconsistent vision, misses cutback opportunities, runs into the backs of his own linemen, drops head and loses his vision in the hole occasionally, lacks high end breakaway speed, burst falls short of elite, not a consistent contributor in the passing game, drops have been a consistent issue, size is a limiting factor in pass pro, awkward angles in pass protection, inconsistent absorbing and sustaining blocks against defenders in pass pro

Overview: James patiently presses close to his linemen, especially on gap runs, before slamming the accelerator and punishing defenders for taking aggressive angles. His lateral explosiveness helps him survey and exchange gaps before sharply cutting upfield. James doesn’t waste time with overly fancy or creative shows of athleticism. He gets downhill quickly, which limits his chances for negative plays and lets him take advantage of his rapid acceleration. James lacks home run speed and elite burst, but his quick acceleration from a dead stop tests pursuit angles near the line of scrimmage. The Tennessee native’s initial burst and lateral cuts test second level defenders and often put them in trail positions. These defenders eventually catch up to James, but being able to overtake them early in the play gives the All-Big Ten selection a respectable floor as a prospect. James’ hips have surprising bend to help him access some sharp cuts and steep angles. This level of athleticism complements his no-nonsense approach and gives him more upside than many one-cut runners. James plays with his hair on fire and runs hard nonstop. He hits the hole at full force and lowers his pad level to greet defenders fitting his gap. The former four-star recruit’s physical approach comes with some limitations. He lacks the moves to escape contact in the backfield consistently and lacks ideal vision. James misses cutback lanes and occasionally runs into the backs of his linemen while attempting to get downhill early in the play. He drops his head in the hole, which makes it impossible for him to execute any cuts or jukes. He just accepts contact at times rather than looking for more creative, high-upside paths. James played behind one of college football’s best offensive lines over the past two seasons. He’ll need to diversify his approach if he lands with a more mediocre unit in the NFL. James rarely puts the ball on the ground despite picking up plenty of yards after contact. He churns his legs during tackle attempts and drives would-be tacklers backward. James drops his shoulder to bury defensive backs on the perimeter and deploys spins and stiff arms. His contact balance helps him bounce off tackle attempts aimed at his hips and thighs. James delivers some nice hits in pass protection but takes awkward angles into blocks and struggles to sustain his position after the initial pop. He doesn’t project as a significant contributor in the passing game early in his pro career.

Overall, James is a no-nonsense one-cut runner with nice acceleration and urgency to deliver repeated body blows to the defense and avoid negative plays. He lacks elite big play ability but is more athletic in a phone booth than expected. James needs to diversify his skill set on passing downs to play more than just a rotational role in the NFL.

Role & Scheme Fit: Rotational early down back in an inside zone or gap scheme

Round Projection: Fifth Round

Size: 5'10", 210 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 12-13-24

Updated: 01-12-25