11. Short Season James was living a busy life as an athlete and as a college student, majoring in administration of justice. Yet he always found time for his family. He was especially close with his brother Michael. Whenever James had a question or needed guidance, he turned to Michael for advice. He made time to help with his favorite charity too: the National Kidney Foundation. In March of 2015, his volunteer efforts were rewarded. James was presented with the "Small Hands Big Heart" Award. He was 1 of 22 college football players selected to the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The honor was in recognition of his positive impact on others and on the community. On the football field, James was excited to get back to work. After the upcoming season, he would be eligible to play in the National Football League--a dream that he had been working toward for most of his life. He was among the best running backs in college, and some experts believed that he would be a top NFL prospect. His junior season began against the Youngstown State University Penguins on September 5. It was Pat Narduzzi's debut as Pitt's new head coach. Narduzzi knew Youngstown State well. He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and played football at Youngstown State for a year. His father had coached the Penguins from 1975 to 1985. That didn't mean Narduzzi's Panthers would go easy on his old team. The Panthers got off to a solid start, behind James' power running. On Pitt's second possession, James rushed 4 times and caught 1 pass, combining for 69 total yards. He capped the series with a 13-yard touchdown run. James ran in another touchdown in the first quarter, giving his team a 14-3 lead. Astoundingly, it was his 36th career touchdown. It tied him with LeSean McCoy and Ray Graham for most touchdowns at Pitt--and James was only a few plays into the beginning of his junior year. Four minutes into the second quarter, James' number was called on a 2nd-and-7 play at the Penguins' 41-yard line. Pitt's leading rusher took a handoff and ran around the right side of the offensive line. He spun to avoid a tackler and then knifed forward. Nine yards later, a defender grabbed his right leg and dragged him down to the ground. James instantly felt pain in his right knee. It didn't hurt much, so he trotted off the field. Pitt's medical team decided to play it safe. They had him sit out the rest of the game. In just over a quarter of play, James tallied 8 carries and 1 reception for 84 all-purpose yards. Even without him, the Panthers managed to squeak out a win, 45-37. After the game, all eyes were on Pitt's star player. Teammates, fans, and members of the media wanted to know what was wrong with James. Coach Narduzzi and James assured everyone that the injury was minor. They were wrong. Two days later, the coach announced the crushing news: James had torn the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee. The injury would require surgery, and James would be out for the rest of the season. Almost before he could even get going, James' season evaporated. He didn't want to let his teammates and coaches down, but there was nothing else he could do. Were his NFL hopes and dreams gone, as well? Maybe for somebody else, they would be--but not for James. After his operation, he began his road to rehabilitation. Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. He was relentless in his pursuit of healing. EXTRA POINT: The MCL is a band of tissue on the inside of the knee. It connects the thigh bone to the bone of the lower leg. The following Saturday marked the first time ever that James couldn't take part in the action on the field. He had to stay at home and watch his team play against Akron on TV. It was bittersweet. It was heartbreaking not to be there, helping his team, but at least he got to see the Panthers defeat the Zips, 24-7. Although Pitt missed James, their successful streak continued. The Panthers kept winning games, and they ended their regular season with a respectable record of 8-4. They were invited to play against Navy in the Military Bowl on December 28. The 21st-ranked Midshipmen handed the Panthers their fifth loss of the season, 44-28. But considering Pitt played most of the year without its star runner, 2015 was a success. Amid all of those Panthers' wins, James' life took an unexpected turn. The devastating injury ruined his season, but it also may have saved his life. Excerpted from James Conner: The Triumphs of a Football Hero by Larry Schardt All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
