ball-hawking UMass DB with a knack for game-changing plays
In the 2004 season, Shannon James emerged as a premier defensive back for UMass, tying the school record with 8 interceptions and finishing his career as the program’s all-time interceptions leader with 20. He also piled up 341 tackles and 253 solo stops in his UMass career, showing rare consistency, production, and run support. The big differentiator: he wasn’t just a tackler — he flipped games, including a 39-yard fumble return touchdown that helped beat Villanova. For a team wanting a high-IQ, playmaking DB with proven ball skills and big-moment juice, James was a classic “fit him in yesterday” defender.
