Jordan James is on his way to the Bay Area.
James was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the ninth pick in the fifth round (No. 147 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Oregon’s bellcow back started all 14 games in 2024, amassing 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, he was one of Dan Lanning’s first high school recruits to commit to Oregon after flipping from Georgia in 2022.
James’ mother, Toshiya, is a nurse that raised James along with a community of family members in Tennessee. A soft-spoken presence, James let his play do the talking for Oregon as he gained bigger and bigger roles each year.
After serving as the backup to Bucky Irving as a sophomore in 2023, James took on lead back duties as a junior in 2024 and led Oregon’s backfield with a blend of power and quick bursts. His ability to pick up chunk plays on the ground was the foundation of Oregon’s offense.
James declared for the draft a year early, finishing in a tie for No. 5 all-time in Oregon history with 31 career rushing touchdowns.
James’ four-year contract is worth $4,639,676 with a $439,676 signing bonus, according to OverTheCap.
— Ryan Clarke covers college sports for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.
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