GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -Brandon James will never forget his first game against Tennessee.
Florida’s speedy return man out of the tunnel at Neyland Stadium in 2006, sprinted toward the orange-clad fans and started doing the Gator Chomp.
Coach Urban Meyer saw James’ confident antics, tapped him on the shoulder pads and told him he would be the team’s kick returner.
James has tormented the Volunteers ever since, racking up 410 yards in returns in three games and scoring twice on punt returns. He probably would have even more Tennessee highlights had it not been for punter Britton Colquitt’s foot tackle in 2006 and a phantom penalty that negated a long punt return for a score later in the game.
“Obviously he’s a dynamic player, one that every time he touches the ball there’s a big fear factor of him going all the way as he’s done against Tennessee before,” Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin said.
against rival Tennessee (1-1) at The Swamp.
“It’s your first real SEC test and a real big rivalry, so of course you come into the game pumped up,” said James, a 5-foot-7 senior who has returned five career kicks for scores.
Not surprisingly, the Vols have practiced punting out of bounds in an effort to take James out of the game.
“He’s a great player. He’s obviously got great speed and great moves,” Tennessee defensive tackle Wes Brown said. “You could have 10 guys around him and he could still slip out.”
James has done plenty of that against the Vols.
He nearly broke a first-quarter punt return for a touchdown in ’06, but he was tripped up by Colquitt after a 35-yard gain. James later zigzagged 90 yards for an apparent score, but it was called back because of a block-in-the-back penalty on Dorian Munroe. Replays, though, appeared to show a legal block.
James had to wait a year to get one that counted against Tennessee. But he didn’t have to wait long in the next meeting. The Vols went three-and-out on the opening possession in ’07, and James returned the punt 83 yards for a score. It sparked Florida’s 59-20 victory, the series’ most lopsided game since 1990.
James made it two in a row last year in Knoxville, returning a punt 78 yards for a score in Florida’s 30-6 victory.
d. “When you’re a real competitor, you’re going to play your best in these kinds of arenas. Those guys – you know who they are – they go out there in those games, and, boy, they shine.”
James wasn’t sure he would even get the chance to shine as a freshman. Meyer rolled out several returners in the first two games and had no idea who would handle the job against the Vols. Then Meyer saw how James handled the crowd, and his decision was obvious.
“That story is probably worn out, but he was not our starting punt returner until I stood right behind him as we took the field in Knoxville and 100,000-plus people were ready for the Gators,” Meyer said. “And I just saw so much of his confidence, and not nonsense. I’ve seen a lot of guys confident on a Monday afternoon when we’re not practicing, and I’ve seen it on Saturday at 3:30, too, when they jog on the field.”
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