HAMPTON, Va. — Next week’s homecoming at South Carolina State will have a family affair theme.

For Bulldog defensive end and Hampton native Markus James, family will be well within shouting range at Armstrong Stadium today. About 30-40 relatives and friends are expected in attendance for the homecoming matchup between the 10th-ranked Bulldogs and host team Pirates.

“I’m going to have a lot of fans there for myself,” James said. “HU is going to have a lot of fans for their homecoming. It’s going to be a big game.”

It was a similar atmosphere for James two years ago when the Bulldogs defeated Hampton 28-24 to spoil its homecoming and earn the first-ever win at Armstrong Stadium. Although James left the game early after hurting his knee, an injury which cost him the rest of the season, watching S.C. State rally twice in the second half to win the game in his honor was memorable.

“I can’t really put into words,” James said. “It was a huge victory.

Just the circumstances especially since I went out with an injury. The boys pulled together and said we’re going to get this win for you. It was just real personal. I can’t put it in words, but it meant a lot to me.”

The son of a former Pirate (Oliver James played football at Hampton during the 1981-82 seasons) and raised about 10 minutes from the campus, James was reared early on the school’s traditions and lore.

When James’ aunt frequently took him to Pirates’ games as a youngster, he could not help but gaze and marvel at the size of the athletes.

“Going to the games, as a little guy, seeing how big those players were, I never thought I’d be playing on the same field as those guys,” he said.

Residing in a region which produced such future NFL talents as quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Ronald Curry and attending Bethel High School whose alumnus include former NBA MVP Allen Iverson and pro football players defensive back Jimmy Williams and defensive end Chris Ellis only enhanced James’ athletic aspirations.

Despite garnering All-District honors at Bethel, the hometown team did not express an interest in James. Hampton came around to James after he de-committed from Tulane University and enrolled in prep school.

By then, however, fate had intervened in the form of a scholarship offer from S.C. State. According to co-defensive line coach David Blanchard, a family friend brought James to the attention of colleague Gerald Harrison.

It only took one tape of watching James in action to convince Harrison and Blanchard to bring him to Orangeburg to play. Upon James’ arrival, he wasted little time making an impact as he emerged as one of the team’s top pass rushers as a freshman.

“It was just the luck of the draw,” Blanchard said.

The last two seasons has seen the 6-2, 245-pound James establish himself as a first-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference defensive end. His tenacity was exemplified during the first-round Football Championship Subdivision playoff game against Appalachian State in which he played after tearing his meniscus.

“The kid is just a competitor,” Blanchard said. “Once I put on the tape, you can see him, he just runs around. 100 percent every play. Not the biggest guy, not the strongest guy. But when we look at him ... he is full speed every snap and that’s something we look for here. We’re not the biggest defense. We’re not the biggest anything. But when you see that kid and you see a kid hustle like that, you can always find a spot for him.”

Recently, James has had to contend with an ankle sprain and Achilles tendon strain which kept him out of the contest against Norfolk State. For the Bulldogs’ return trip to the Tidewater area, James was determined not to miss his true homecoming.

“Soon as I found out how serious the injury was, I was working out three times a day trying to get back for the Norfolk State game,” he said.

“Things didn’t work out. The coaches didn’t want to rush me so that I would play more games this season. So I’m taking my time. There’s no guarantee I’ll play.”

If James is unable to play, he’ll be happy as long as the Bulldogs can earn him another summer of bragging rights in his hometown.

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by calling (803) 533-5547 or by email at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com. Read his blog, Following the Bulldogs, by visiting www.thebulldogzone.com.

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