re: Who Are Some Criminally Underrated SEC Players of the Past/Present?

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Optimism was running high until tragedy struck. Senior fullback Greg Pratt died in practice, the victim of heatstroke during conditioning drills. The team was shocked to its core by the loss, none more than James. Pratt was also from Albany and had transferred to Auburn on James' advice. The two often shared James' older brother Tim's car for trips home. Tim played basketball for Auburn Coach Sonny Smith. "It was uncharacteristic of Greg to be in the front of his group during those drills," James remembers, "but he was out in front on the first lap. Then he started to lag behind, and by the time it was over, the other guys were carrying him across the finish line. He made it into the dressing room, and I found him laying on the floor of the shower, praying to himself, the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. I went over and helped him out of the shower, and he said, 'Tell Mama I'll be all right.' I thought he was okay, and Bo and I went to eat lunch. When we came back, everybody was down on the floor, praying, and Kyle Collins said to me, 'I don't think Greg's going to make it.' I couldn't believe it. I didn't think 21-year-old athletes could die."

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Jackson was named the Sugar Bowl MVP, but the superstar refused the honor. Instead, Bo handed the trophy over to his friend and mentor, Lionel James. Jackson's magnanimous tribute was not the last for the "Little Train." He was presented the Shug Jordan Award as the outstanding senior player. In 1987, Dye recognized James' Auburn legacy by inaugurating the Lionel James Offensive MVP award for each year's A-Day game, in honor of one of his favorite players.

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In 1985, James set the NFL record for all purpose yards in a season with 2,535 yards. He also set the record for receiving yards by a running back with 1,027 yards [1] while also leading the AFC in receptions with 86. On November 10, 1985, he had his best day as a pro versus the Los Angeles Raiders. He gained 345 all-purpose yards including a career best 168 yards receiving and scored the winning touchdown in a 40–34 overtime victory.[1] The total yardage was second at the time only to the 373 yards by Billy Cannon in 1961. He might have broken the record in earlier game that season against the Cincinnati Bengals except for a Chargers penalty that cost him 89 yards of a 100-yard kickoff return. James finished that game with 316 yards.[2]

James record for receiving yards by a running back was broken by Marshall Faulk (1,048) in 1999,[3] and his all purpose yardage record was eclipsed in 2000 by Derrick Mason (2,690 yards).[4]

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