James III ready to take on the 'best of the best'
AUBURN | Paul James III has been waiting for this moment for a long time.
The junior college transfer, who enrolled in January, is just 10 days away from suiting up for Auburn and playing in Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time.
The Tigers host No. 2 Clemson Sept. 3.
“One hundred percent I’m looking forward to it because I feel like I’m going against the best of the best,” James said. “When I go out there and do what I do best nobody can’t compete with that.”
A Miami, Fla., native, James originally signed with Illinois in the 2013 class. He played in four games in 2014 but withdrew and enrolled at Copiah-Lincoln before the 2015 season.
That’s where Auburn, looking for immediate help at defensive end, found him after he accumulated 47 tackles and 14 sacks last fall.
After battling through an injury during spring practice, James has hit the ground running during preseason drills.
“He’s gotten better every scrimmage and he’s fun to coach,” defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said. “He has a skill set that can make him really good so when he gets it figured out, he’s getting better every day at practice. Every day. He’s not a high rep guy. He’s a smart football player so that helps him.
“There is still some things that happen where it’s the first time he’s seen it. He’s a guy that is strong and powerful enough to play a six technique or on a tight end or be an open side guy and even drop him in coverage.”
James’ improvement started during offseason workouts. He entered fall practice listed at 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds.
“The strength program is off the roof,” James said. “My body is way different than when I was at Illinois. We do way different exercises and lifting. It’s a tremendous difference.”
James is part of a talented, deep and experienced defensive line. But the junior says that his primary competition is with himself.
“The reason why is because every day Coach (Rodney Garner) tells us you’ll never be the same, you’re either going to get worse or you’re going to get better. I just stick with that momentum and push myself,” he said.
