Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Extends Offer to Veteran IOL Helped by New NCAA Waiver
If not for the NCAA granting a waiver to players who competed at non-NCAA institutions and were running out of eligibility next season, UTSA transfer offensive lineman CJ James would not be playing college football next season.
James — a 6-foot-3, 310-pound offensive lineman from Springfield, Mass. — will now have an opportunity to spend his final season of eligibility at Pitt after picking up an offer from offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau on Monday.
James is an experienced offensive lineman with stops at Lackawanna (Pa.) CC, Abilene Christian, New Mexico and most recently, UTSA.
Blessed for the Offer! pic.twitter.com/XNSLo1J4oD
— CJ James (@BigC5One) December 30, 2024
James is coming off a successful season at UTSA, starting all 13 games and racking up 1,004 offensive snaps in the process. According to PFF, he allowed just 12 pressures and no sacks — only one quarterback hit.
He’s an extremely experienced lineman with over 3,000 career offensive snaps under his belt — 1,500 at New Mexico and 650 at Abilene Christian. He’s played the majority of those snaps at center but has spent some time at guard, too. Pitt isn’t in need of a center, per se, but there’s always room for a veteran lineman.
James would have just one season of eligibility remaining and would provide flexibility across the line.
Pitt lost Branson Taylor to injury this season, which forced Ryan Baer from right tackle to left tackle, and it opened a massive hole on the offensive line. Lyndon Cooper and BJ Williams are set to return at center and guard, respectively, but Pitt needs to upgrade.
The Pitt coaching staff is looking to upgrade its starting unit and supplement its depth. And James would be a nice addition. It remains uncertain where he’d slot in, or how the line would be configured, but Pitt could use him.
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