Dolphins Sign Former Oregon RB LaMichael James

Jordan Ingram FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

James requested to be released prior to be being waived by the 49ers.

James requested to be released prior to be being waived by the 49ers.

Former Oregon running back LaMichael James has signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins today, a year after being waived by the San Francisco 49ers. Last year, James signed with the Dolphins’ practice squad, but had since made it to their active roster as of Nov. 10, 2014.

The Texarkana, Texas product re-signed with Miami hoping to see a significant increase in snaps next season behind running back Lamar Miller.

The Liberty-Eylau High School star and Doak Walker Award winner will most likely compete for playing time as a receiving back alongside Damien Williams.

James was drafted by the 49ers in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After nearly three seasons in San Francisco, James rushed for 184 yards on 41 carries and caught five passes for 45 yards. The small but speedy back saw time as a receiving back and punt returner, but did not see any significant time behind starting running back Frank Gore.  

“I’d be lying to you if I said it’s not frustrating. I want to be out there, but I understand we have a lot of running backs and it’s difficult to get on the field,” James told The Oregonian

Oregon’s prolific running back left Eugene for the NFL with a year of college eligibility remaining. He became the Ducks’ first two-time consensus All-American and ranked first in school history with 5,082 career rushing yards. In 2011, his final year at Oregon, James led the nation in rushing yards per game (150.42), and ranked second nationally in total rushing yards (1805) and all-purpose yards per game (181.30). 

James will most likely fit in as a flex back behind Miller and has an opportunity to become an integral part of an uptempo Miami offense. The 5’9″, 195 lb running back achieved unprecedented success as a small but speedy back in Chip Kelly‘s high octane Oregon offense.

Top photo from Video

 

 

New 2024 FishDuck Publishing Schedule….

During the off-season the FishDuck.com publishing schedule will consist of articles on Mondays and Tuesdays. Do keep checking as new articles could be published during the week when a writer has something to say.

In mid-August of 2024, we will go back to the seven-days-a-week of articles during the football season as we did in the football season of 2023.

The Our Beloved Ducks Forum (OBD) is where we we discuss the article above and many more topics, as it is so much easier in a message board format over there.  At the free OBD forum we will be posting Oregon Sports article links, the daily Press Releases from the Athletic Department and the news coming out every day.

Our 33 rules at the free OBD Forum can be summarized to this: 1) be polite and respectful, 2) do not tell anyone what to think, feel or write, and 3) no reference of any kind to politics. Easy-peasy!

OBD Forum members….we got your back.  No Trolls Allowed!