The San Francisco 49ers selected running back Jordan James from Oregon with the 147th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. James, a product of Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, now joins fellow Murfreesboro area player Jauan Jennings on the 49ers roster.
James played three seasons for Oregon, appearing in 38 games with 14 starts in his senior year. He finished his collegiate career with 2,215 rushing yards on 386 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt, and scored 31 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 42 passes for 347 receiving yards and one touchdown.
In his 2024 senior season, James led the team with 1,267 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 233 carries, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. He also added 26 receptions for 209 yards. His 90.9 rushing grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024 tied for seventh in the nation.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound back posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.55 seconds. He measured 9 feet, 9 inches in the broad jump, with 29 3/4-inch arms and 9 1/2-inch hands.
Scouting analysis describes James as a physical runner with a low center of gravity who breaks tackles effectively. While noted for his ability to cut and change direction, reports also mention a need for more patience behind the line of scrimmage and development in pass protection.
NFL.com gave James a pre-draft grade of 6.17, which indicates potential to develop into a starter. He was projected by NFL.com as a fourth-round selection.
Pro Football Focus ranked James 215th on their big board and gave him an overall grade of 86.2 for the 2024 season.
Comparisons have been made to backs like Dameon Pierce and Tyjae Spears, suggesting a role as an immediate contributor in a committee backfield with potential for a larger role over time. His style is seen as fitting well in zone-blocking schemes.
James was a highly-rated recruit out of Oakland, leading the high school to back-to-back Class 6A state championships before attending Oregon.
