Sampson James Returns To Indiana Football After Stint With Purdue

Sampson James, a former four-star running back, will rejoin the Indiana football program as a walk-on for the 2023 season. James played at Indiana from 2019-20 before transferring to Purdue.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Running back Sampson James is returning to Indiana after a stint with Purdue.

James has been admitted to IU and will join the football program as a walk-on, an IU spokesman told HoosiersNow.com.

James first joined coach Tom Allen and the Hoosiers for the 2019 season out of Avon High School outside of Indianapolis, where he rushed for 3,451 yards and scored 41 total touchdowns. A two-time IFCA All-State selection, James was a consensus four-star recruit, ranked No. 182 in the nation and 10th among running backs. 

James originally committed to play for Ohio State, but he de-committed from the program in October of 2018. The 6-foot-1 running back flipped his commitment to Indiana, where he saw immediate playing time as a true freshman.

In 2019, James appeared in all 13 games with two starts, carrying the ball 81 times for 275 yards and three touchdowns. At Purdue on Nov. 30, James posted 118 yards on 22 carries with one touchdown. James' role at Indiana decreased during the 2020 season, generating just 96 yards on 32 carries across six games.

During fall camp before the 2021 season, James decided to leave Indiana and enter the transfer portal. He chose to play for coach Jeff Brohm at Purdue, but James did not play during the 2021 season. In July of 2022, James entered the transfer portal for a second time. He did not play during the 2022 season.

James now joins an Indiana running back room coached by Craig Johnson in his second in Bloomington. Jaylin Lucas is back for his sophomore year after earning first-team All-American honors as a kick returner in 2022. After beginning his career at North Carolina, Josh Henderson approaches his second season at Indiana, where he rushed for 398 yards, gained 274 receiving yards and scored eight total touchdowns. Indiana also added Wake Forest transfer Christian Turner, who rushed for 1,022 yards and 12 touchdowns across two seasons. 

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