DJ James, the mainstay of the Auburn Tigers’ defense, returned to his roots in early 2022. He took to X to announce the same, writing, “I’ma win and I got Ties Now, Ian Sparing No 🥷! I’m Home🔥” The reason behind his return was to lead his teammates to an SEC Championship, but that’s his organizational goal. On a personal front, he wanted to be an All-American.

James was the starting CB and ended up with 38 tackles, despite the Auburn Tigers ending with a 6-7 record. Although he didn’t fulfill his dream of being an All-American, he will have a chance to fulfill another dream of playing in the NFL. But none of this would have been possible without his parents. So, take a look at his parents and family background, who encouraged him to take football seriously.

DJ James’ family has had a great impact on his success

D. J. James was born on March 5th, 2001, in Mobile, Alabama, to Desmon James and Tiffany Knight. He has two elder siblings, a brother, James, and a sister, Saqoria, who studied at the College of Liberal Arts. He started his journey in football reluctantly when he was just 5 or 6. However, he was pushed by his parents against his liking. As he recalls, “Football is a sport I was put into – I actually quit when I was 5 or 6 because I didn’t like it at first.” He further added, “But my family got me back out there, and then we found out that I happened to be fast.”

Since he started training at the age of 7, he focused on his speed a lot, sometimes even trying sprinting on the track. He got the much-needed support from his older siblings, who were always keen to help him out by teaching him from their mistakes. He said, “I have an older brother (Demond) and an older sister (Saqoria), and they really helped me by teaching me to learn from their mistakes.” The support carried on beyond the four walls of his house, as his whole family would often attend his home games. Now, his family can see him play in the NFL, once he is drafted in the upcoming NFL draft.

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DJ James makes a strong case for himself at NFL Combine

Billed at 6’0 feet and 175 lbs, DJ James was impressive at the NFL combine, ending with a prospect grade of 6.30 and a total score of 75. He has been ranked 8th among the CBs, with his 4.42 seconds for the 40-yard dash being the highlight of his performance, not surprising as he loves sprinting.

Read more: 2024 NFL Draft: College Teams With the Most and Least Picks

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein mentions that with a thin frame, James is athletic and quick for short runs. James also has excellent ball control, and disciplined footwork, and is rarely out of position. However, James’s thin frame is also his downside, as he may struggle against stronger guys and lacks the desired size and strength to contest for catches, adds Zierlein. Hence, Bleacher Report has ranked him to be drafted at #90, in the 4th round, probably late in the second day.

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