After another award winning season, center Curtis James begins training for the chance to play in the National Football League.
James, who graduated this fall after completing his senior football season, had a strong 2012 and helped lead the Tommies to their first Stagg Bowl appearance. Looking back on his St. Thomas career, James said the time spent with the Tommie team has driven him to keep striving for more.
“The greatest thing I’ve learned is mental toughness and perseverance,” James said. “The idea that I can push through the turmoil I experience and put myself in a good position.”
That mental toughness was forged after James transferred to St. Thomas from the University of Minnesota. Coming from a Division I program, James found himself ready to run the show at St. Thomas, but was overweight, he said. After struggling to find playing time his first season, James realized the amount of effort it would take to be at the level he wanted.
“I think the reality of it all really hit me. The concept that it really isn’t that easy,” James said.
With his college career over, James hopes his next step is playing in the NFL. For the next 90 days, he will be pushing himself harder than ever before to impress the NFL scouts.
For daily speed, stamina, and strength training, James travels to the Englebert Training Systems gym in Woodbury to work on key NFL combine principles including: shuttle running, bench press and the 40-yard dash.
James will participate in the Gopher Pro Day at the U of M. His preparation also comes with a strict diet, consisting of five healthy meals a day with no fast food or alcohol.
Physical training isn’t the only way James has prepared for the league. He has recently been talking to sports agents aiming to sign a deal.
James said he plans to continue pushing himself further to make his dreams a reality.
“Houston, Seattle, Oakland…it doesn’t matter. Wherever there’s an opportunity and someone that wants to take a chance on a D-III guy, I’ll go,” James said.
Coach Glenn Caruso thinks that James’ mental toughness will propel him to success.
“I don’t think there is anything Curtis can’t do if he puts his mind to it. I believe that Curtis is a man that has proven he is extremely mentally tough, extremely focused, and extremely smart, and that’s going to serve him well on his journey,” Caruso said.
After his final season this fall, James had a resume full of awards including being named a two-time All-American, a Gagliardi Trophy finalist, and this year’s winner of the Rimington Award for D-III’s best center. James, however, was quick to point to his team’s success.
“I’m surrounded by an unbelievable cast of people … the consistency that we were able to produce this year is what ultimately got me those awards, and I can’t rightfully accept them without attributing a lot to those guys,” James said.
James’ teammates praised the big man leading the offensive line. Redshirt freshman running back Brenton Braddock said James’ attitude and team leadership will be missed.
“Playing with Curtis James has truly been an incredible experience,” Braddock said. “His dominance you see on Saturdays will undoubtedly be missed, but what will be missed most is his leadership, hard-working attitude, and tremendous character that the team and I were able to witness on a daily basis.”
Alex Goering can be reached at goer8777@stthomas.edu.