Indiana University Athletics
Sampson James Ready to Bring ‘A’ Game Mentality
6/28/2019 1:27:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Appearance won't gain you yards. Sampson James understands that. So while blessed with an elite Big Ten running back look -- his 6-1, 220-pound chiseled physique resembles something Michelangelo might have sculpted -- Indiana's four-star prospect has to prove he can run like one.
The freshman will get his chance this season amid the fiercest position competition the Hoosiers have had in perhaps, well, ever.
Running backs coach Mike Hart has so much available talent that head coach Tom Allen pushes a running-back-by-committee approach.
There's Stevie Scott, who rushed for 1,137 yards and 10 touchdowns last year as a true freshman. No Hoosier has ever done that. There's hyper-talented Ronnie Walker Jr., who ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in limited action last year. There's Cole Gest, who ran for 428 yards and averaged 4.6 yards a carry in 2017 before blowing out his knee in last year's season opener. There's another freshman, Ivory Winters, who rushed for 2,700 yards and 59 touchdowns as a high school senior in Florida.
Into this mix comes James, a two-time all-state player who rushed for 3,451 yards and 38 touchdowns for Avon High School.
James knows exactly what all this means -- nothing will be given, everything will be earned.
"It pushes you every day," he says. "You have to bring it every day. You have to bring your A game."
Scott, the 6-2, 233-pound sophomore, isn't about to concede playing time. Still, he's helped James' development.
"He's a great guy, a hard runner," James says. "I've learned a lot from him. I feel we'll push each other. It will be great."
That's true with all the running backs, he adds.
"It's a lot of learning. We learn from each other. We all have different running styles. It's a great thing. It definitely pushes you to be your best every day."
Hart provides an ideal on-and-off-the-field example of what that best can do. As a Michigan running back standout he rushed from more than 5,000 yards, was a two-time Doak Walker Award finalist, and played in two Rose Bowls. He then played a couple of years with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts before going into coaching and directing four 1,000-yard rushers.
"I've seen the way he coaches," James says. "He wants us to stay humble, stay in the playbook, stay out of trouble. If you don't know something, make sure you ask. Don't be shy to ask. He's always on us on every aspect, not just in football. We have a lot of life talk. As far as football, staying focused and play your hardest."
James is confident without being cocky, poised without being nonchalant. The guy was, after all, a top Ohio State commitment before switching to the Hoosiers.
"I feel I'm a complete back. I can block. I can catch out of the backfield. I can be a downhill runner if I want to. I can make somebody miss if I want to. I feel I can do most of it all."
James prepared for this opportunity by skipping his final high school semester to enroll early at IU.
No regrets, he says.
"It wasn't too bad. I was looking forward to graduating early when I committed in the fall. I was looking to get better."
Mission accomplished.
"Being able to learn the plays, taking classes, getting acclimated in that. Now I'm good. I've been here for a whole semester. I feel pretty comfortable. It was an advantage coming here early."
James' most visible sign of improvement comes from the 30 pounds he's gained since arriving at IU. It's another example of the benefits of the strength and conditioning program implemented by David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea.
"I feel great," James says. "I'm faster than I've ever been. It's been very productive in the weight room. Credit to Coach Ballou and his staff. They have really developed me."
That off-season development, he adds will have significant in-season benefits.
"A lot of the stuff we do in the weight room will translate to the field. I feel it. This is a great situation."
It was one Cream & Crimson situation that, for a while, didn't seem likely.
Flipping from Ohio State to Indiana was big.
As for the decision, James says, "It was a huge moment. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was excited to join the program and become a part of something special.
"I know we're building something really special here. I believe in the program, all the coaches, the strength staff. Everything we do here, I believe in."
Belief came from Tom Allen's persistence. Even after James had committed to Ohio State, IU's coach stayed in touch. This is a way of life in 21st Century recruiting, where concession at any time before a player signs a national letter of intent gets you beat.
"(Allen) always being there, and staying with me, even when I was committed to Ohio State, meant a lot," James says. "He let me know Indiana was still a home for me."
James plans to make the best of it with a revamped Indiana offense. The Hoosiers have a new offensive coordinator in Kalen DeBoer and nine returning offensive starters to boost an attack that averaged 26.4 points a game last season.
"I'm excited about our versatility," James says. "We have a lot of weapons with every position group -- receivers, offensive line, our quarterbacks, our running backs. We can do a lot of different things."
As for what he can bring, James adds, "More explosiveness to the offense, being able to do more, run routes out of the backfield, line up out of the backfield, catch the ball and make plays. Blocking."
As the top-rated prospect in IU's best recruiting class in years, James will be expected to do that, and more.
Pressure? Sure, but nothing he says he can't handle.
"I don't worry about that," James says about high expectations. "I look to get better in every aspect. Learn from other guys, pick up everything I can. Play my hardest. Make sure effort is there. Stay focused on what I need to do."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Appearance won't gain you yards. Sampson James understands that. So while blessed with an elite Big Ten running back look -- his 6-1, 220-pound chiseled physique resembles something Michelangelo might have sculpted -- Indiana's four-star prospect has to prove he can run like one.
The freshman will get his chance this season amid the fiercest position competition the Hoosiers have had in perhaps, well, ever.
Running backs coach Mike Hart has so much available talent that head coach Tom Allen pushes a running-back-by-committee approach.
There's Stevie Scott, who rushed for 1,137 yards and 10 touchdowns last year as a true freshman. No Hoosier has ever done that. There's hyper-talented Ronnie Walker Jr., who ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in limited action last year. There's Cole Gest, who ran for 428 yards and averaged 4.6 yards a carry in 2017 before blowing out his knee in last year's season opener. There's another freshman, Ivory Winters, who rushed for 2,700 yards and 59 touchdowns as a high school senior in Florida.
Into this mix comes James, a two-time all-state player who rushed for 3,451 yards and 38 touchdowns for Avon High School.
James knows exactly what all this means -- nothing will be given, everything will be earned.
"It pushes you every day," he says. "You have to bring it every day. You have to bring your A game."
Scott, the 6-2, 233-pound sophomore, isn't about to concede playing time. Still, he's helped James' development.
"He's a great guy, a hard runner," James says. "I've learned a lot from him. I feel we'll push each other. It will be great."
That's true with all the running backs, he adds.
"It's a lot of learning. We learn from each other. We all have different running styles. It's a great thing. It definitely pushes you to be your best every day."
Hart provides an ideal on-and-off-the-field example of what that best can do. As a Michigan running back standout he rushed from more than 5,000 yards, was a two-time Doak Walker Award finalist, and played in two Rose Bowls. He then played a couple of years with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts before going into coaching and directing four 1,000-yard rushers.
"I've seen the way he coaches," James says. "He wants us to stay humble, stay in the playbook, stay out of trouble. If you don't know something, make sure you ask. Don't be shy to ask. He's always on us on every aspect, not just in football. We have a lot of life talk. As far as football, staying focused and play your hardest."
James is confident without being cocky, poised without being nonchalant. The guy was, after all, a top Ohio State commitment before switching to the Hoosiers.
"I feel I'm a complete back. I can block. I can catch out of the backfield. I can be a downhill runner if I want to. I can make somebody miss if I want to. I feel I can do most of it all."
James prepared for this opportunity by skipping his final high school semester to enroll early at IU.
No regrets, he says.
"It wasn't too bad. I was looking forward to graduating early when I committed in the fall. I was looking to get better."
Mission accomplished.
"Being able to learn the plays, taking classes, getting acclimated in that. Now I'm good. I've been here for a whole semester. I feel pretty comfortable. It was an advantage coming here early."
James' most visible sign of improvement comes from the 30 pounds he's gained since arriving at IU. It's another example of the benefits of the strength and conditioning program implemented by David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea.
"I feel great," James says. "I'm faster than I've ever been. It's been very productive in the weight room. Credit to Coach Ballou and his staff. They have really developed me."
That off-season development, he adds will have significant in-season benefits.
"A lot of the stuff we do in the weight room will translate to the field. I feel it. This is a great situation."
It was one Cream & Crimson situation that, for a while, didn't seem likely.
Flipping from Ohio State to Indiana was big.
As for the decision, James says, "It was a huge moment. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was excited to join the program and become a part of something special.
"I know we're building something really special here. I believe in the program, all the coaches, the strength staff. Everything we do here, I believe in."
Belief came from Tom Allen's persistence. Even after James had committed to Ohio State, IU's coach stayed in touch. This is a way of life in 21st Century recruiting, where concession at any time before a player signs a national letter of intent gets you beat.
"(Allen) always being there, and staying with me, even when I was committed to Ohio State, meant a lot," James says. "He let me know Indiana was still a home for me."
James plans to make the best of it with a revamped Indiana offense. The Hoosiers have a new offensive coordinator in Kalen DeBoer and nine returning offensive starters to boost an attack that averaged 26.4 points a game last season.
"I'm excited about our versatility," James says. "We have a lot of weapons with every position group -- receivers, offensive line, our quarterbacks, our running backs. We can do a lot of different things."
As for what he can bring, James adds, "More explosiveness to the offense, being able to do more, run routes out of the backfield, line up out of the backfield, catch the ball and make plays. Blocking."
As the top-rated prospect in IU's best recruiting class in years, James will be expected to do that, and more.
Pressure? Sure, but nothing he says he can't handle.
"I don't worry about that," James says about high expectations. "I look to get better in every aspect. Learn from other guys, pick up everything I can. Play my hardest. Make sure effort is there. Stay focused on what I need to do."
Players Mentioned
FB: Omar Cooper Jr. Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Stephen Daley Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Carter Smith Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (10/20/25)
Monday, October 20