UF's Brandon James Undergoes Surgery
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 | Football
University of Florida junior Brandon James (St. Augustine, Fla.) underwent successful surgery at Shands Florida Surgical Center on Monday. The procedure repaired a fractured metatarsal bone in his right foot. James will be on crutches from 6-to-8 weeks and a full recovery is expected.
The 2008 Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, James ranks first on Florida's single-season (510 yards in 2008) and career punt return yards' chart (1,127 yards). He is tied for the school record for career punt returns for touchdowns with four, a total that ranks third all-time in the SEC. James is fifth all-time in SEC history in total kick return yards, including kickoffs and punt returns, with 3,089 yards.
Last season, James played in all 14 games for the national champion Gators, including four starts at running back. He was tabbed a 2008 All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, garnered first-team All-American accolades by Sporting News and Phil Steele and received honorable mention All-American honors from Pro Football Weekly. James returned 37 punts for 510 yards (13.8 avg.) and two touchdowns and racked up 738 yards on 32 kickoff returns (23.1 avg.). In the 31-20 victory over top-ranked Alabama at the Georgia Dome, he set an SEC Championship Game record with five kickoff returns for 121 yards.
He earned the Special Teams Player of the Week accolade twice (Hawaii & Tennessee) after scoring on 74 and 78-yard punt returns, respectively. His 78-yard punt return against the Vols was the fourth of his career, tying Jacquez Green's UF record for punt returns. James was one of seven players in the country to return two or more punts for touchdowns in 2008.
