Florida Football Freshman Profile: Kamran James is an edge menace
![Florida Gators outside linebacker Kamran James (24) gives Gator fans high-fives during the Spring Gator Walk at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023 for the University of Florida Orange & Blue game. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Orange And Blue Game](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F14c37eb0658c3b4ad2b74f49cbbc89159c605b538c3b467d9816b7b348a4d5e1.jpg "Florida Gators outside linebacker Kamran James (24) gives Gator fans high-fives during the Spring Gator Walk at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023 for the University of Florida Orange & Blue game. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Orange And Blue Game")
As the season fast approaches for Florida football, we are continuing our series of the freshmen on campus and what the odds are they appear this season with the Gators. If you follow recruiting, these will be household names. But if not, these can be a good refresher to catch you up to speed.
We have previously profiled:
- Dijon Johnson
- Sharif Denson
- Ja’Keem Jackson
- Andy Jean
- Will Norman
- Kelby Collins
- Aidan Mizell
- Aaron Gates
- Jordan Castell
- Bryce Thornton
- T.J. Searcy
- Treyaun Webb
- Eugene Wilson
Today we look at one of the top signings for the Gators from the 2023 class, Kamran James.
Florida Football: Never too many pass rushers
Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports says that James “Should be viewed as a boom or bust type of prospect,” and that feeling is reflected in the rankings for James as a high school prospect.
On3 had James as the 54th-best prospect in the country, and 247 still had him in the top 100. ESPN, however, barely put him in the top 300, while Rivals outright ranked him as a three-star prospect.
Listed at 6’6″ and 272 pounds, there is no debate whether James has the build to be an edge rusher in the SEC.
On film, James was a wrecking ball in high school simply by being more athletic than his opposition. He has little issue pushing opposing offensive tackles backward into the QB, has a great motor, and when he hits someone, everyone in the stadium feels it.
You can view his senior year film here.
Odds of redshirting: Low
Billy Napier has been singing the praises of James during Fall Camp. With the injury to Justus Boone, James is going to be thrown into the fire early and often. As we highlighted before, the nine-edge rushers listed on Florida’s roster have a combined career sack total of eight, and Princely Umanmielen has all eight.
Ultimately what will dictate his long-term success is his ability to develop secondary moves. He tended to stay rather high on film in high school and didn’t showcase a vast array of moves because he didn’t have to.
The depth chart right now has Umanmielen as the only sure starter at defensive end, with the belief that Jack Pyburn will be tapped to fill the other side. But James has been featured in Florida’s scrimmages, and don’t be shocked to see him get early action this season.
Next. Eugene Wilson is worth the hype. dark