Every day a star is born.
For James Graham, his day came when he led the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane to the Region 1-AA state championship game in 2015. Though Fitzgerald lost 42-21 to Pace Academy, Graham’s ability caught the eyes of Division-I schools already as a junior.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Graham is a dual-threat quarterback with the legs to outrun defenders and a knack for finding the end zone. Graham’s speed, athleticism, and versatility allow him to line up as a wide receiver in the slot and on the edges at corner back.
With his star on the rise and a little help from his teammates, Graham continues to work hard and remain humble as college interest mounts.
Graham credited seniors JD King, running back, and Lecitus Smith, tight end, for helping him deal with the attention he has received.
“Having JD King and Lecitus Smith with me has helped me deal with the notoriety,” Graham said. “All my life I’ve wanted to play in a state championship game. I’ve put in the work year-round and just want to stay humble and keep grinding forward.”
The Purple Hurricane (10-1 overall, 5-0 in region play) has one of the most prolific offenses in Region 1-AA, averaging 43.7 points per game while surrendering just 14.9 to opponents. The Purple Hurricane offense has scored 40 or more in nine of 11 games so far this season, including a season-high 70 in a win over Macon County Sept. 9.
According to MaxPreps, Graham, while still developing as a passer, has completed nearly 54 percent of his passes, albeit on just 76 attempts this season, and has thrown 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Graham’s value comes from the hurricane-like destruction he can render with his legs on opposing defenses. With an ability to take off at any given moment and with King wreaking havoc between the tackles, the Purple Hurricane keeps defenses off balance on a game-to-game basis.
A three-star recruit, Graham currently has offers from 10 Division-I schools including Virginia Tech, Miami, Maryland, Arkansas, and Cincinnati among others. With offers to play positions other than quarterback, Graham suggested he is most dangerous with the ball in his hands as a playmaker.
“Most of my offers are coming for running back and slot receiver,” Graham said. “I’ve got a couple offers to play quarterback. I see myself with the ball in my hands. I just need the ball.”
Winners always want the ball. However, the attention that comes with that desire can often make players wilt under the weight of scrutiny. With offers mounting, Graham is focused on leading the Purple Hurricane and working as hard as he can to return to the state championship game.
“The attention hasn’t really affected me,” Graham said. “It just motivates me to go even harder so I can get offers from even bigger schools and more stars. I’m a three-star right now, so I’m trying to get to that five-star (ranking).”
Motivation comes easy for Graham, a player raised by a single mother working a desk job and spurred on by the memory of his late grandfather, Robert, to keep him going on and off the field.
“My granddad passed a few months ago, and he always just told me to push myself and stay focused,” Graham said. “I’d say him and my mother are my biggest motivators.”
The balancing act of being a student-athlete is another obstacle Graham hurdles from week to week. With so much of his attention drawn to football, he insisted his focus remains in the classroom first and foremost.
“(School) comes first,” Graham said. “Coaches are always pushing me to put my grades first. I compete with my teammates, saying, ‘I bet I can score higher than you on this test,’ and things like that. My teachers push me because they know I’m a good athlete. They just want me to be a good student-athlete.”
Gaining the confidence and trust of his mentors has been a major key in Graham’s development. As his game continues to grow, coaches have given Graham more responsibility on the field as a leader. When Graham was out with an injury, the coaching staff entrusted him with the freedom to call plays.
“When the guys are down and we’re having a bad practice, they expect me to pick the guys up and lead them,” Graham said of his role. “They put me in situations where I can call plays, and (they) ask me, ‘What do you see out there?’ and give me input. When I got hurt, they let me call a whole quarter or a half. I know all of the different positions on the field. Being a leader, I have to know everything on the field.”
“(That trust from coaches) put me up a lot,” Graham said. “Having a guy like JD King with me, Lecitus Smith, Montrell Harris – those guys also lead the team; it’s not just all me. Next year, (the leadership role) is going to be on me. Having three years under me playing varsity, playing in big games, and having adversity will prepare me for that role.”
Graham’s reputation as a runner makes him a focal point of opposing coaches’ defensive schemes. As more game plans devise ways to slow him down, Graham must make strides as a passer to take his game to the next level.
“I want to be more comfortable in the pocket,” Graham said. “As a quarterback, I need to learn to have faith in my offensive line instead of running a lot. I just have to relax in the pocket, let plays progress, and make the right reads – just feel the field.”
A two-sport athlete, Graham also competes in track and field in the 110 hurdles, the 200-meter, the triple jump, the long jump, the 4×100, and the 4×4 relay. When it comes to his NFL team of choice, Graham prefers the Atlanta Falcons but idolizes Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. For Graham, seeing how Newton carries himself on the field is something he wants to emulate.
“Watching Cam, he plays with a lot of excitement,” Graham said. “He’s always happy, giving back to the kids, signing footballs, and leading his team, and I see myself that way. I try to push myself to be like that.”
The Purple Hurricane has been on the winning side of many blowout victories this season. For such a high-scoring offense, complacency inevitably creeps in. Leading 20-0 in the first quarter against Thomasville in the region championship game, the Purple Hurricane seemed primed to roll once again. Costly mistakes began to unravel them, punctuated by Graham throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown. The “pick-six” led to other miscues to get Thomasville back into the game. Fortunately, the Purple Hurricane defense was able to stem the tide, and the offense was able to seal the win late in the game. According to Graham, that kind of adversity is necessary for growth.
“We have to keep pushing and tell each other not to give up,” Graham said. “I try to keep everyone’s heads up when things like that happen. It was good to go through that because we had to buckle down and finish off the game.”
With his senior season still left to play, Graham is riding the wave of being a student-athlete and reflected fondly on what being a Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane really means.
“We have this quote we go by: ‘Be above the line,’” Graham said. “It’s about showing character, being a leader, being respectful, being responsible, and giving back to the community. To us, being above the line is the biggest thing.”
Playing Above the Line
Written by: Shane Thomas
Photos by Micki K Photography
