BATON ROUGE — LSU linebacker Bradie James, a First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2001, will return for his senior season, he announced at a press conference in his hometown of West Monroe, La., on Wednesday.
James, who was a candidate for the Butkus Award, ranked second on the team with 113 tackles, including eight tackles for losses and three sacks. James recorded a team-best 78 solo tackles in leading the Tigers to a 10-3 overall mark and a 47-34 victory over seventh-ranked Illinois in the Sugar Bowl. LSU finished its season ranked No. 7 in the nation.
James seemed to be at his best in the big games as he led LSU with 10 tackles in the Tigers’ 31-20 win over second-ranked Tennessee in the SEC Championship game and he posted 14 tackles, 13 solo, in a 35-21 victory over Alabama. James also had 11 tackles and one sack in a 41-38 win over Arkansas.
James was also a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the second straight year.
In three years with the Tigers, James has recorded 264 tackles, 23 tackles for losses and 11 sacks. In 2000, James ranked second on the team with 110 tackles and he was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the Peach Bowl after posting six tackles and recovering a pair of fumbles in the 28-14 LSU victory.
James earned second team All-SEC honors in 2000 and he was a member of the Freshman All-SEC squad as a true freshman in 1999.