University of Houston Athletics
2026 Football Roster
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Jersey Number 5
Will James
- Position:
- DB
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 185
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Grand Bay, Ala.
- High School:
- Theodore HS
- Prev School:
- Southern Miss
As a Sophomore (2025)
-
Started all 13 games at cornerback
-
All-Big 12 Second Team
-
All-Texas Second Team, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
-
PFF National Team of the Week (Nov. 24)
-
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 24)
-
Led the Cougars in interceptions (3), turnovers gained (4) and forced fumbles (2)
-
One of two Cougars to block a kick and one of four to recover a fumble
-
Eight pass breakups placed second on the Cougars
-
77.8 PFF defensive grade ranked third on the team
-
78.1 PFF coverage grade ranked third on the team
-
Earned a 92.7 defense grade and 93.1 coverage grade against TCU (Nov. 22)
-
Eight 70+ tackling grades
-
Five 70+ coverage grades
-
Four 70+ defense grades
-
Tallied two games with 5+ tackles and multiple tackles in 11 of 13 games
- Spent 2024 season at Southern Miss
- Began collegiate career at Mississippi State (2023)
- Appeared in all 12 games including 10 starts in ‘24
- Seven starts at right cornerback; five starts at left cornerback
- 754 snaps played
- 644 snaps defensively including 615 at wide corner
- Led Southern Miss with seven passes defended
- Seven passes defended ranked sixth nationally among freshmen
- Seven passes defended were second-most by Southern Miss freshman since 2000
- 35.0 tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss
- Tackles in 11 of 12 games
- Multi-tackle performances 10 times
- Over his final six games: 23 tackles and six passes defended
- 79.8 PFF run-defense grade led all Southern Miss defenders
- 69.7 PFF defensive grade ranked second among Southern Miss defenders
- Redshirted as true freshman at Mississippi State in 2023
High School
- Prepped at Theodore
- Three-star prospect by 247Sports
- State of Alabama’s No. 54-ranked prospect
- Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game participant
- Missed half of senior season due to injury
- Returned to help guide Theodore to a 13-1 record
- Program reached Class 6A semifinals
- Played offense due to injuries in quarterbacks win over St. Paul’s
- Five carries for 151 yards and three rushing TDs vs. St. Paul’s
- Rushing TDs of 67 yards, 62 yards and 13 yards
Personal
- Dream job outside of football: real estate
- Something people don’t know about him: he loves motorsport
- Brother, Shemar James, played football at Florida and was a 5th round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
- One word to describe him on the field: amazing
- If he could eat one food for the rest of his life: seafood
- Favorite childhood memory: park ball
- Sports hero: Julio Jones
- Gameday ritual: listen to gospel music
Press Conference: Head Coach Willie Fritz Speaks to Media on the 2026 Transfer Portal Class
Wednesday, February 04
Postgame Press Conference: Football vs. LSU (Texas Bowl)
Sunday, December 28
Highlights: Houston 38, LSU 35 (Texas Bowl)
Sunday, December 28
Press Conference: Head Coach Willie Fritz Previews Texas Bowl vs. LSU
Monday, December 22
