Commitment No. 13: TE Tyrick James

Tulane’s successful recruiting week continued Saturday morning when three-star tight end Tyrick James from China Springs (Texas) High tweeted his commitment.

James, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound prospect who also had interest from Kansas State and SMU, said he chose the Green Wave after Kansas State pulled its offer but was firm in his decision. He is the 13th commitment in the 2018 class for second-year coach Willie Fritz, who benefitted from a close connection on the China Springs staff.

Brian Bell, Fritz’ starting quarterback for all four years of his tenure at Sam Houston State from 2010 to 2013, is James’ offensive coordinator.

“I like coach Fritz,” James said. “He’s a very exciting guy. I’ve never talked to him one time when he wasn’t enthusiastic. I talked with coach Bell for a little while about the coaching staff, and he gave me nothing but great words about them. The second factor was just the school in general. I love the school.”

James did not participate in one of Tulane’s summer camps but visited last month. He is the second tight end in the Wave’s commitment class, joining McKinley’s Josh Quiett, and the third player from Texas.

“My best skill is my route running,” he said. “I can block, too. I’m versatile.”

James likely will play all over the place in his senior year at China Springs, serving as a running back and backup quarterback in addition to starting at tight end. He also logged time at linebacker last year.

He feels as if he has unfinished business. China Springs advanced the state semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs in Texas’s Division I, losing to perennial power Carthage in triple overtime. China Springs missed a field goal that would have won it in double overtime, then threw an interception on the next play before Carthage scored the winning touchdown.

Carthage went on to win its fifth championship in nine years.

“I feel like we can go all the way,” James said. “We’ve won one state championship and appeared in three more (championship games) since then. We usually make the playoffs, and there’s no doubt we’ll go at least two or three rounds deep.”

James, Tulane’s 13th commitment, is the sixth 3-star prospect, exactly double the total from the Wave’s 26-player signing class last February.