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If ever there was a player who seemed ready — and likely — to fill the shoes of a departing All-American, it may very well be Florida State rising sophomore Derwin James.
It didn’t take long for James to assert himself in Tallahassee as a man among men last year, and in the 2016 season, he’s going to have every opportunity to emerge as the leader of the Seminoles secondary.
The 6-3, 213-pound James, a former 5-star recruit out of Haines City High School in Florida, is an ideal physical specimen — a tremendous combination of speed and power who can walk down an opposing wide receiver in pass coverage or charge upfield like an Amtrak in run support and blitz situations.
National analysts thought highly enough of James for him to emerge as the No. 1 safety nationally in his class in the 247Sports Composite index. Upon his arrival in Tallahassee, he proved quickly that he was ready to play, finding his way into the secondary rotation as one of Ramsey’s top backups.
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