Belle Chasse Wide Receiver James Wright is working hard this summer. Spending time in Dallas, Wright described his workouts as “intense”. While schools from all over the country have offered the talented pass catcher, Wright is more focused on preparing for his senior season than the recruiting trail.
“I want to win another state championship. That’s all I am working for.” Wright said.
Wright said he is currently 6-2, 195 and is not filling up his schedule with camps.
“I haven’t been going to camps lately. But, I am definitely going to the LSU camp in July and maybe the Texas Tech camp.” Wright added “I also want to visit USC. And I might go visit Alabama in the fall.”
Having just secured an offer from LSU, the in-state product said he has been thinking about LSU a lot lately.
“It’s a good school. They have everything I want in a college. The football program is an excellent program, and they always bring in great recruiting classes. They always get better. Academically, I went to their Junior Day and they are very impressive. They have everything you can ask for.”
While Larry Porter is the lead recruiter, Wright said he has developed a great relationship with DJ McCarthy and Les Miles.
“Coach McCarthy is a straightforward guy. What you see is what you get. And, Coach Miles is a cool, funny guy. He has a great personality.”
Wright also said about Miles, “Most football coaches don’t want their best athletes to get away from them. But you see him with his players, and the baseball and track guys, you see a coach who allows his players to do what is best for them, and their future. It’s pretty impressive. He is a man that is more concerned with what is best for the individual than just what is best for the football program. It says a lot.”
Evaluation
Wright is a prospect that not only possesses very good size and a frame to fill out and become an imposing presence, but he also displays very good speed, quick feet and the ability to get vertical more than one might think. He is used in a variety of roles both in the slot and on the outside and is very effective on slip screens. He is lanky, has good height and has yet to grow into his frame. Possesses long arms, is a long strider and has very deceptive speed-- covers a lot of ground quickly. Shows quick feet and good surge off the line of scrimmage. Is very confident and attacks the football. He has excellent hands and the ability to snatch the ball away from his body. He shows very good concentration and he will make the tough catch in traffic and he is especially good on the high ball-- has big upside in the red area. He can also track the vertical ball and make adjustments to bad balls. Shows excellent body control and sideline awareness. He is an adequate route runner, very smooth in and out of his cuts for a taller player, and he has a nice little short-area burst. He can run high at times and is a bit high cut which will give him somewhat of a straight-lined appearance both as a route runner and after the catch. What stands out most about Wright is his quick, strong hands. He is a guy QB's can throw the ball up to and he will go get it. His combination of size and speed give him a vertical presence on the outside, but he has a real knack for working the underneath and intermediate zones out of the slot and appears comfortable playing on the inside. Overall, Wright has upside to develop as a route runner and could find a home permanently as a slot receiver and redzone target on the outside. Good player with a bright future at the next level.
Notes
2008: Caught 58 passes for 1,058 yards (18.2 average) and 18 touchdowns. Carried 22 times for 214 yards and four more scores. All-District, All-Metro, and Class 4A All-State selection... Also recruited by: Stanford, Minnesota, Utah, Tulsa, Central Florida, Louisiana-Monroe...
