Hall of Fame
Jimmy “Red” Parker coached Charlie James from 1961-64 and called him “the best defensive tackle I ever saw in that conference. He had an intensity that made him play to the absolute limit of his ability on every play. And he had a mean streak that all great defensive players have. It’s hard to compare players from small colleges and big schools, but when I was at The Citadel, we didn’t have anybody as good as Charlie.”
At 6-3 and 265 pounds, James was much bigger than most linemen of his era.
In 1963, he anchored what Parker and his assistant coach, Larry Lacewell, have called the best defense in school history. That unit posted four shutouts and held another four opponents to seven points or less.
James earned honorable mention All-America recognition after the ’63 season and repeated the honor in 1964 for a defense that set school records that still stand for fewest yards and fewest passing yards in a season.
James signed with the Houston Oilers but saw his career end with a knee injury prior to the start of his first season.
