James gets second look from Redblacks

The Ottawa Redblacks sent Adrian James home earlier this season, but with their encouraging parting words, he hoped he’d return.

On July 4, it happened, the Redblacks brought him back. On Thursday night at home against the Edmonton Eskimos, James, a 25-year-old defensive back, will get a chance to show what he can do. He’s starting at strong side linebacker, with Antoine Pruneau moving back to safety. Here’s how it went down. James started training camp with B.C. and was released after the Lions’ first pre-season game. The next day, he heard from the Redblacks and he was in Ottawa for a couple of days.

Said James: “I played in a preseason game, they told me they already had guys they were interested in, but that I was very impressive and I should stay ready because I could get a callback anytime. I heard from them again within two weeks. I was excited I had a job.”

While strong side linebacker is a new position for James, he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“My strengths are my size, I’m very physical, I’m fast and I have great hips and feet so I can cover guys all day long,” he said. “(SAM) is something new for me. But I like it, I’m naturally a safety so at the linebacker/DB position there are a lot of things I can do. I can freelance a bit more so it gives me the opportunity to read the quarterback. I’ve been playing this game my whole life. It’s not like I will be nervous or too anxious. I just have to be myself.”

The former University of Texas at El Paso Miner was cut by a

couple of NFL teams, but hung in and worked hard for another opportunity.

“It’s just the business of the game, you always have to stay ready,” he said.

“This is something I love, something I want to do, you can’t give up on it.”