The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Auburn cornerback DJ James plans on taking full advantage. James recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
James also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his recent ball production, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know James better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
DJ James: I was in Auburn, Alabama. I was super excited to receive my invite because I’m actually from Mobile, Alabama. I grew up wanting to play in the Senior Bowl, wanting to be a part of the spectacle. To receive that invite meant a lot to me and my family. I’m very excited for what’s to come.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
DJ James: I already had a relationship with Jim Nagy. I actually received an invite to last year’s game as well, but I decided to return to Auburn for another season. I don’t regret that decision. I’m very glad that I received another invite. Jim Nagy and I already had a great relationship. I knew once I received another invite, I was going to accept it this time.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
DJ James: I’m excited for the opportunity to display my skill set. I’m going to show everybody that I love football. I’m a football guy through and through. I love being around all things football. I’m the ultimate competitor. I’m going to show every NFL decision-maker that I love to compete.
I take pride in playing the cornerback position. It really is the most competitive and trying position. It’ll test your patience. I take playing the position personally. It means a lot to me. I’m going to show everybody how excited I am about displaying my skills in front of NFL coaches.
JM: Speaking of your skills, how would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself.
DJ James: I would say I’m a fast and fluent cornerback. I’m very instinctual. I have great speed for the position. I have a natural knack for being around the football. I’m always making plays around the ball. I’m a complete football player at the end of the day.
JM: Speaking of your knack for making plays on the ball, you had a career-high 12 pass breakups this season. What is it about your game that leads to so much ball production?
DJ James: I would credit my film study first and foremost. Auburn moved me around the formation. I played both inside and outside. That versatility gave me opportunities to make plays on the ball. Playing multiple positions was a lot of fun this past season. I understood the route concepts I was seeing on the outside and inside. I went over a lot of film with my coaches. That allowed me to move around the field as necessary. That really helped a lot.
JM: Now that you’ve had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer to Auburn from Oregon?
DJ James: It was a great decision. It was something my family and I talked about. We prayed about it. I don’t regret it. I feel like everything happens for a reason. I had to go through that stepping stone. I made great connections at Oregon. I loved my time at Oregon. I’m very thankful for coach Mario Cristobal and his staff. They’re great people. I hope I can always communicate with coach Cristobal. He had a bunch of great people on his staff.
At the end of the day, I don’t regret leaving Oregon. Auburn was great to me. I loved my experience there. The SEC is extremely competitive. I made a good decision. Playing in two different conferences gave me a unique college football experience. Going from the West Coast to the South, football was definitely played differently.
JM: That’s a great point. If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL cornerback, who would you choose and why?
DJ James: If I’m going with a veteran, I’d have to say Darius Slay. If I’m going with a younger guy, I’d say Denzel Ward. I love how both of those guys play the game. I watch them and study their film. I try to emulate what they do. They’re both very fluent cornerbacks. They have good speed. They can play press coverage. They can play off. They can play man and zone coverages. That’s something I feel like I can do as well. I love studying their tape.
JM: Is DJ James a man corner or a zone corner?
DJ James: DJ James is whatever you need him to be (laugh). I don’t even have a preference. I’ve played under zone defensive coordinators and I’ve played under man defensive coordinators. Whatever scheme a coach wants me to play in, I’ll be ready for the challenge.
JM: Teams are going to love that versatility. What’s on DJ James’ pre-game playlist?
DJ James: I listen to NBA YoungBoy first and foremost. “Life N’ Glory” is the first song on the playlist.
JM: At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for DJ James?
DJ James: It means I went out there and put the full range of my capabilities on display. That means I was around the football and made plays on the ball. I want to impress the coaches in attendance. That’s something I love to do.
