Packers showing interest in Carroll football player and CdA grad Josh James

NFL teams are each allotted 30 pre-draft invitations for face-to-face prospect evaluations.

Carroll All-American offensive tackle Josh James, a graduate of Coeur d’Alene High School, was one of the rare NAIA products to nab an invite after garnering interest from the Green Bay Packers.

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound James was flown to Green Bay. There, he went through a series of physical tests before a 30-minute interview with Packers offensive line coach James Campen.

James, one of the top non-Division I prospects at his position per various scouting websites, hopes to get picked up in the late rounds of the NFL draft, which begins April 28, or sign a free-agent contract.

“It was a pretty cool experience,” James said. “The facilities were pretty sweet. We even went out and ate at Brett Favre’s Steakhouse.”

James was one of three invitees during his visit, joining Baylor offensive lineman Blake Muir and Michigan fullback Joe Kerridge.

He said scouts were initially impressed with measurables and combine marks, which include a vertical leap of 30 inches and 26 bench-press reps of 225 pounds.

At the University of Montana’s pro day in March, James pulled his hamstring right before he was scheduled to run the 40-yard dash. He thought that may have hindered his chances at getting a serious look. But his California-based agent, Derek Fox, whose clientele includes Baltimore Ravens All-Pro receiver Steve Smith, encouraged James to come to Boise State’s pro day, which featured a scout from every NFL franchise.

James made the trip to Boise, but didn’t do any drills. Between the good word of Fox and meeting more scouts who got to see him up close, Green Bay showed interest.

When Fox relayed the message to James, who is finishing the final two credits of his engineering degree from Coeur d’Alene, he was stunned.

“My jaw dropped in my lap,” said James, whose younger brother, Matt, is an offensive tackle at the University of Washington. “I can’t even explain the feeling.”

A four-year starter at Carroll, James started to attract NFL interest during his junior season when scouts made quick jaunts to Helena to stealthily evaluate him.

“Honestly, I have no idea if I’ll even get signed to a free-agent contract. They play it pretty close to the vest,” he said. “Going pro is always a dream, but I didn’t even consider it until last year. I have a pretty solid Plan B and C if it doesn’t work out.”

The last Carroll product who earned serious NFL interest was All-American tight end Bubba Bartlett, who signed a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans in 2011.

Tight end Casey FitzSimmons, a 2004 Carroll alum, is the only former Saint to earn a spot on an NFL team’s 54-man roster, playing for the Detroit Lions from 2004-09.