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Kevin James signs with Bethel




Kevin James signs to Bethel. SUBMITTED

Kevin James signs to Bethel. SUBMITTED

WHITE HOUSE – White House Blue Devils senior punter Kevin James signed on Monday to play college football at Bethel University in McKenzie, TN, a member of the NAIA.

James, who is also a centerfielder on the baseball team and plays basketball, was a three-way player for the Blue Devils on the gridiron – starting at wide receiver, defensive back and on special teams. He will play college football as a punter after punting 70 times in high school for 2,215 yards with 16 kicks inside the 20 and a long of 64 that helped clinch the Region 5-4A championship at Greenbrier this season.

James was a member of the 2017 5-4A All-Region team and was the Farm Bureau Player of the Week for Week 9. In 2017, he had six receptions for 107 yards and led the team with four touchdowns, while punting 27 times for 920 yards with nine inside the 20. The Blue Devils were 11-1 and finished the regular season 10-0 with a region championship.

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to keep playing and I really like punting and the opportunity to continue my career,” James said. “I looked up some information through some recruiting services and I appreciate Coach (Cory) Willoughby helping me with the process and I am thankful to Bethel University for giving me this chance. I fell in love with it after the first visit.”

James averaged 31.6 yards per punt in his career and added 16 catches for 234 yards and four touchdowns. He added 11 special teams returns for 132 yards and 39 tackles with seven pass-breakups, two interceptions, three tackles for losses and a fumble recovery.

“It’s very valuable to have a guy like Kevin on your team, being able to contribute in as many ways as he can,” said White House offensive coordinator Ryan Hamilton. “Conditioning really pays off and he really grew as a leader this year and really came into his own and how the team learned to respect him and follow his lead. We are very proud of him to be able to sign the dotted line and represent our school.”

James was joined at White House High School with his family, teammates and classmates and coaches for the event.

“I’m so excited for Kevin, he is a great kid and he deserves this. They are going to be really impressed with the kind of kid they are getting and the football player and young man that he is,” said White House assistant coach Cory Willoughby, who is instrumental in helping Blue Devils football players in the recruiting process.

“I think it was huge to see the work ethic and determination and the success of the conditioning program that we work so hard at in the offseason at White House,” Willoughby added. “With NAIA, there are some kids that transfer down from bigger schools and some kids that don’t get the looks of a bigger school, but with his work ethic and ability to be on the field the way he was, he has a strong leg and I think they will be impressed with his ability to get off booming kicks and be a big contributor for their program.”

Bethel University was 3-7 in 2017, including 2-4 in the Bluegrass division of the Mid-South Conference of the NAIA.

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