Four-star safety CJ Craig-James rapidly slapped his teammate’s helmet after an out-of-control rep where the defender ahead of him did a little too much freelancing and found himself out of position to make a play.
Don’t worry, the helmet had extra padding on it.
The very next play, that same teammate maintained gap integrity, triggered downhill, and got the stop.
Craig-James, with a sly smile, went up to him and made the same gesture of repeated and emphatic pats to the head.
Earlier that practice at Birmingham Parker’s home stadium, just on the outskirts of downtown, Craig-James jammed his shoulder pretty good and needed help dislodging it. But he pushed through the pain and was back in the swing of things within a few minutes.
“Just being a leader,” Craig-James said of his personal goal for the 2026 campaign. “First, hold myself accountable, then hold my teammates accountable.”
These small moments feel essential to Craig-James’ growth as a national prospect who is being recruited as a 2028 class centerpiece by playoff-caliber programs.
He’s quiet, he observes more than he talks. Stepping outside of that comfort zone is concerted, and Craig-James is making strides through quantifiable actions.
The expectation for Craig-James and a senior-heavy Parker squad is to rebound from last year’s 8-4 campaign and return to double-digit victories. That means a playoff run, perhaps a state title if the squad with upwards of a dozen FBS prospects meets its potential.
“We could go 15-0,” Craig-James said.
Craig-James would have to be the driving force behind any such run. He’s the lynchpin of Parker’s defense due to his absurd wingspan within a 6-foot-3 frame and positional versatility. Frank Warren, Parker’s head coach, nodded adamantly when Craig-James was asked about whether he’d be moved around the field.
Free safety. Strong safety. Nickel. Craig-James is most excited about nickel, the idea of getting closer to the action is intriguing.
Speaking of intrigue, teams from around the country are making a bid at Craig-James, who is ranked 87th nationally and as the No. 7 safety in the 2028 cycle.
