Paul James had already rushed for 881 yards in a season, but the moment he really arrived came in the Knights' season-opening win against Washington State this year. Rutgers, in its first game in the Big Ten, came from behind with three minutes left to snatch a win and kick off the Big Ten season in style. Paul James' 173 yards were the sign that maybe, things would work beautifully with two new East Coast teams joining the old and proud Big Ten.
Rutgers' darling season would continue, but James's would not. An ACL tear against Navy ended his season prematurely, and sent Kyle Flood to his bench.