Lionel James

'''Lionel''' "'''Little Train'''" '''James'''<ref name=posner_02252022/> (May 25, 1962 – February 25, 2022) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] for the [[San Diego Chargers]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]]. Undersized at {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m}} and {{convert|171|lb|kg}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel James|website=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/lionel-james/|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref><ref name=wiley_12161985/> he spent his entire five-year NFL career with the Chargers from 1984 to 1988. His best year as a pro came during the 1985 season, when he set then-NFL season records for receiving yards by a running back and [[all-purpose yardage]]. He also led the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) in [[Reception (gridiron football)|receptions]] that year.

'''Lionel''' "'''Little Train'''" '''James'''<ref name=posner_02252022/> (May 25, 1962 – February 25, 2022) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] for the [[San Diego Chargers]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]]. Undersized at {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m}} and {{convert|171|lb|kg}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel James|website=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/lionel-james/|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref><ref name=wiley_12161985/> he spent his entire five-year NFL career with the Chargers from 1984 to 1988. His best year as a pro came during the 1985 season, when he set then-NFL season records for receiving yards by a running back and [[all-purpose yardage]]. He also led the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) in [[Reception (gridiron football)|receptions]] that year.

==High school and college career==

==Early life and college==

James was born in [[Albany, Georgia]],<ref name=posner_02252022/> where he attended [[Dougherty Comprehensive High School|Dougherty High School]], playing football, [[basketball]], and running [[track and field|track]]. Because of his small stature of {{convert|5|ft|6|in}} and {{convert|150|lb}}, [[Auburn University]] was the only major college to [[college recruiting|recruit]] him.<ref name=wiley_12161985>{{cite magazine|first=Ralph|last=Wiley|title=Little Train on a Fast Track|date=December 16, 1985|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/12/16/little-train-on-a-fast-track|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304005916/https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/12/16/little-train-on-a-fast-track|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2021|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> He played [[college football]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Tigers]], sharing the backfield with [[Bo Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Dave|last=Distel|title=Lionel James Is Charger Runner for All Reasons|date=September 28, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-28-sp-17461-story.html|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> James was Auburn's leading [[rush (gridiron football)|rusher]] with 561 yards in [[1981 Auburn Tigers football team|1981]], head coach [[Pat Dye]]'s first year with the team. He ran for over 700 yards in consecutive seasons as a junior and senior.<ref name=green_02252022>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Green|title=Legendary Auburn running back Lionel 'Little Train' James dead at 59|date=February 25, 2022|website=AL.com|url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2022/02/legendary-auburn-running-back-lionel-little-train-james-dead-at-59.html|access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref> James also led the team in [[all-purpose yardage]] in 1981 and [[1982 Auburn Tigers football team|1982]],<ref name=posner_02252022/> when he also led the nation in [[punt return]]s with a 15.8-yard average.<ref>{{cite news|title=Auburn places nine on preseason All-SEC|date=August 25, 1983|newspaper=The Advertiser|at=Football '83, p. 8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96541781/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref> He was a [[captain (sports)|captain]] in [[1983 Auburn Tigers football team|1983]],<ref name=posner_02252022/> when the Tigers won the [[Southeast Conference]] championship and the [[1984 Sugar Bowl]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Tony|last=Barnhart|title=Auburn Wins 1984 Sugar Bowl, but National Championship Still Eludes Tigers|website=AllstateSugarBowl.org|url=https://allstatesugarbowl.org/classic/auburn-wins-1984-sugar-bowl-but-national-championship-still-eludes-tigers/|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> Auburn finished 11–1 and ranked No. 3 by the [[AP Poll|Associated Press]].<ref name=sandomir_03042022/> James was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame announces class of 2006|date=October 10, 2005|website=WSAF.com|url=https://www.wsfa.com/story/3957303/the-alabama-sports-hall-of-fame-announces-class-of-2006/|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref>

James was born in [[Albany, Georgia]],<ref name=posner_02252022/> where he attended [[Dougherty Comprehensive High School|Dougherty High School]], playing football, [[basketball]], and running [[track and field|track]]. Because of his small stature of {{convert|5|ft|6|in}} and {{convert|150|lb}}, [[Auburn University]] was the only major college to [[college recruiting|recruit]] him.<ref name=wiley_12161985>{{cite magazine|first=Ralph|last=Wiley|title=Little Train on a Fast Track|date=December 16, 1985|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/12/16/little-train-on-a-fast-track|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304005916/https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/12/16/little-train-on-a-fast-track|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2021|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> He played [[college football]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Tigers]], sharing the backfield with [[Bo Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Dave|last=Distel|title=Lionel James Is Charger Runner for All Reasons|date=September 28, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-28-sp-17461-story.html|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> James was Auburn's leading [[rush (gridiron football)|rusher]] with 561 yards in [[1981 Auburn Tigers football team|1981]], head coach [[Pat Dye]]'s first year with the team. He ran for over 700 yards in consecutive seasons as a junior and senior.<ref name=green_02252022>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Green|title=Legendary Auburn running back Lionel 'Little Train' James dead at 59|date=February 25, 2022|website=AL.com|url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2022/02/legendary-auburn-running-back-lionel-little-train-james-dead-at-59.html|access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref> James also led the team in [[all-purpose yardage]] in 1981 and [[1982 Auburn Tigers football team|1982]],<ref name=posner_02252022/> when he also led the nation in [[punt return]]s with a 15.8-yard average.<ref>{{cite news|title=Auburn places nine on preseason All-SEC|date=August 25, 1983|newspaper=The Advertiser|at=Football '83, p. 8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96541781/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref> He was a [[captain (sports)|captain]] in [[1983 Auburn Tigers football team|1983]],<ref name=posner_02252022/> when the Tigers won the [[Southeast Conference]] championship and the [[1984 Sugar Bowl]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Tony|last=Barnhart|title=Auburn Wins 1984 Sugar Bowl, but National Championship Still Eludes Tigers|website=AllstateSugarBowl.org|url=https://allstatesugarbowl.org/classic/auburn-wins-1984-sugar-bowl-but-national-championship-still-eludes-tigers/|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> Auburn finished 11–1 and ranked No. 3 by the [[AP Poll|Associated Press]].<ref name=sandomir_03042022/> James was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame announces class of 2006|date=October 10, 2005|website=WSAF.com|url=https://www.wsfa.com/story/3957303/the-alabama-sports-hall-of-fame-announces-class-of-2006/|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref>