Wink James is a rising, disruptive DL with real size-to-speed juice
Richard “Wink” James enters the 2026 season as a North Carolina Central junior defensive lineman at 6'1", 239 pounds, after reportedly adding production in 2025 with 8 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. He’s a good fit for teams that value effort, leverage, and developmental upside: his high-school résumé featured 47 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks as a senior, and he chose NCCU over programs like James Madison, Temple, Buffalo, and Pitt. The big question is whether his frame and motor keep translating against stronger competition.
