LR Central linebacker finds Georgia peachy

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• By Richard Davenport
• 6:00AM on August 21st, 2009

After visiting Georgia State, Little Rock Central linebacker/fullback Blake James came away impressed with what the Panthers had to offer. On Sunday he decided to orally committed to the Panthers.

“It was really the whole package,” James said. “I love the school and the academic part of how challenging their business school is and I just loved Atlanta.”

James, 6-1, 225, 4.7  received strong interest from schools like Kansas St., Vanderbilt, Tulane, Stanford, TCU, Colorado St., La. Tech, Navy, Tulsa, Iowa St. and others.

Despite being indications of more offers to come, James relished the chance to play for coaching legend and head coach Bill Curry. Likewise, defensive coordinator and Forrest City native John Thompson influenced James when it came to choosingPanthers.

“In the recruiting process, I said I was looking for a coach that’s also a father figure type,” James said of Curry. “I felt like it didn’t get any better than him. I have the utmost respect for Coach Thompson. The program they’re putting together is something I want to be a part of and they’re making it a tight knit family. “

Georgia State will play their first season of football in school history starting in 2010. James likes the idea of being a pioneer.

“It really stuck out to me,” He said. “I’m pretty adventuresome and I like to do new and exciting things. It doesn’t get any more exciting it doesn’t get any more new and exciting than to be a part of a start up program. It makes you think because you look at it and think about it that I’ll go down in history as part of the first football team at Georgia State. Not too many people get to say they’re part of a startup program.”

The Panthers are recruiting James as a middle linebacker along with the possibility of playing fullback and deep snapper.