Brandon James Brandon Keith James ( born December 21 , 1987 ) is an American former professional football wide receiver and kick returner . James played college football for the University of Florida , was a two - time All - American , and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams . Thereafter , he played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League ( NFL ) and for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League ( CFL ) . Early years . James was born in St . Augustine , Florida in 1987 . He attended St . Augustine High School , where he was a standout running back for the St . Augustine Yellow Jackets high school football team . As a senior team captain in 2005 , James ran for 900 yards and eight touchdown s while leading the Yellow Jackets to a Florida Class 3A state championship . College career . James received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville , Florida , where he played for coach Urban Meyer ' s Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2009 . As a freshman in 2006 , James saw immediate playing time as a kick return specialist , returning 33 punts for 363 yards and one touchdown in 2006 , and earning Freshman All - Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) and Freshman All - American honors . His 33 - yard kickoff return against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game gave the Gators the ball in Buckeye territory after Ohio State ' s Ted Ginn , Jr . opened the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown . James ' dramatic return and the Gators ' resulting touchdown changed the early momentum of the game , with the Gators ultimately defeating the top - ranked Buckeyes 41 – 14 to win the BCS National Championship . James led the Gators in kickoff and punt return yardage for four consecutive seasons , and finished his college career with 4 , 770 total yards gained , including 112 kickoff returns for 2 , 718 yards and a touchdown , 117 punt returns for 1 , 371 yards and four touchdowns , 379 receiving yards and 302 rushing yards . His career kickoff return yardage and combined kick return yardage remain SEC records . He was a first - team All - American in 2007 , a consensus first - team All - American in 2008 , a first - team All - SEC selection in 2008 , the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2008 , and a senior team captain in 2009 . During his time as a Gator , the team won two SEC Championship Game s ( 2006 , 2008 ) and two BCS National Championship Game s ( 2007 , 2009 ) . James graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor ' s degree in sociology in 2010 . Track and field . James was also a member of the Florida Gators track and field team , competing at the SEC Outdoor Championships . His personal bests are 10 . 43 seconds in the 100 meters and 21 . 00 seconds in the 200 meters . Professional career . The Indianapolis Colts signed James as an undrafted free agent on April 30 , 2010 . On November 10 , James was activated from the practice squad to the main roster . On November 28 , 2010 , James posted 150 kick return yards and 29 punt return yards . He was released the following week from the Colts active roster . In , the Edmonton Eskimos signed James as a free agent , but he was later released during the regular season , bringing his playing career to an end . Coaching career . In 2012 , James was hired to coach the football team at St . Joseph Academy in St . Augustine . He was fired after one season in which the team went 2 - 8 .