Rutgers to start walk-on Paul James at running back

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Before he went off for 182 yards on 22 carries late Thursday evening at Fresno State, Paul James cannot remember the last time he registered a 100-yard game.

All he can remember is that it certainly wasn't during his first two years with the Rutgers football team, but as a senior at tiny Glassboro (N.J.) High School. A redshirt sophomore and a walk-on to boot, James may not remember his last 100-yard game, but it is clear now that his latest 100-yard game is a seminal moment in his career.

James, who is technically a walk-on but said he has been promised a scholarship in the near future, was named the starting running back on Monday morning as the Scarlet Knights prepare to host Norfolk State in Saturday's home opener.

"I think Paul's done a great job and certainly his production in the last game, he earned the right to go out there first in the game," said Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood Monday morning at his weekly press conference. "The plan, going forward, is still to play two, and possibly three running backs in the game and the production will dictate the carries."

True junior Savon Huggins will back up James. Huggins was named the starter immediately in the aftermath of Jawan Jamison's decision to turn pro in January, but he has struggled to get it going during scrimmages in spring camp and training camp. He rushed six times for 15 yards against Fresno State.

Huggins was the clear choice to open training camp as the starter given he had two years of experience. Additionally, James had only five career carries to his credit, while other reserves Justin Goodwin and Desmon Peoples had none.

As camp wore on, the Scarlet Knights had two controlled scrimmages ahead of Thursday's opener. Huggins struggled, while James continued to pick up steam. Inserted in the second quarter Thursday night, James shined, ripping off big runs of 65 and 55 yards along the way.

"It's been a long time coming for me, I've been waiting for it," James said. "I really didn't let it get to me. Some people let that stuff get to them where they've been waiting for so long that they kind of just give up, but I just use it as motivation to push myself harder."

The 6-foot, 210-pound James has gotten to this point, a walk-on starting at a skill position for a BCS-level program, against long odds. A 3,300-yard, four-year career at Glassboro yielded little college interest as James was forced to choose between walk-on rolls at Rutgers and Temple, with both schools guaranteeing him nothing.

While he said Temple was a nice school, James felt it simply wasn't the right fit, so he decided to travel north. Two years after he arrived, all eyes and a national television audience will be on him Saturday afternoon.

"P.J. is a really hard runner," said redshirt freshman offensive lineman Chris Muller, who described Rutgers' new starter as a "tank." "He never stops moving his legs and that's probably one of his biggest assets. He is not afraid of contact and using a move to get a defender off him, which is really nice."

Williams III writes for New Jersey Press Media, a Gannett property.

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