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Lionel James

Lionel “Little Train” James endeared himself to Auburn fans as a running back for the Tigers from 1981-83. At a height of 5 feet, 6 inches and weighing only 171 pounds, the undersized James had to prove himself when Pat Dye took over as head coach
after his first year.

“When I met Coach Dye, the first thing he asked me was ‘Who recruited you and who signed you’,” James says. “What he was really saying was, ‘You are too small to play in the SEC.’ It was his way of motivating me, and it worked.”

James showed his mettle, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, third best in school history, and in 1982 led the nation in punt returns averaging 15.8 yards per return. During his senior year, James was instrumental in helping Auburn win the SEC championship and a Sugar Bowl victory with an 11-1 record.

James was drafted by San Diego in the fifth round of the 1984 National Football League draft and played for the Chargers for five years. In 1985, he set the record for
all-purpose yards (combined yards rushing, receiving and returning kicks) in the
history of the NFL with 2,535. In November that year, James exhibited his best day
on the field as a professional versus the Los Angeles Raiders. He gained 345
all-purpose yards, including a career-best 168 yards receiving, and scored the
winning touchdown in overtime.

Since retiring from the NFL, James has coached high school football in Georgia and Alabama as well as at Appalachian State University and Auburn, and professionally with the Kansas City Chiefs.

James and wife Kesha live in Birmingham with their children, Lionel and Kasey. He is a counselor and tutor for Pro Star Academy, an organization designed to positively influence and educate student-athletes for success on and off the playing field.

2008 Featured Guest