James carries on the City tradition

City College in Baltimore isn't just a high school - it's a landmark. The Castle on the Hill, as it's referred to in Baltimore City, has been around since 1839, making it the third oldest high school in the United States.

They've been playing football at the school since the late 1800s, establishing a rich tradition that includes numerous city championships, conference championships and deep playoff runs.

Over the years the Black Knights have produced a number of Division I football players and even a few NFL players, most recently wide receiver Bryant Johnson. Last year, City graduated elite wide receiver Adrian Coxson, who is on his way to Florida. He's just the latest Black Knight to leave behind a legacy.

"When a player leaves City, he passes the torch on," said City rising senior Tre James. "He teaches us the way and then it's our job to pass it on to the next group. It's been like that forever. I believe Adrian lit my fire a little bit and passed the torch on to me and the other seniors."

James, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end-linebacker with a devastating first step, is destined to be the next great Black Knight. He may not wind up at an SEC school like Coxson, but there's little doubt James has big-time talent.

"We've had players that have gone on to Division I that weren't as good as he was on the high school level," said longtime City coach George Petrides. "He's just now reaching his potential, but there's no question he's got a special ability."

Besides his unique talent, James embodies the "City Way." Merriam Webster doesn't clearly define what that exactly means (at least, not in the sixth edition of the Webster College Dictionary), but most City folk agree it's a combination of pride, leadership, toughness and character.

James recalls the moment he learned the City Way from Coxson. During the annual City-Poly game, a rivalry that dates back to 1889, Coxson almost single-handedly kept his team's hopes alive. With bragging rights and a playoff spot on the line, Coxson scored all three of City's touchdowns, including a 92-yard fourth quarter run that tied the game at 20.

"He showed us that in our weakest moments we can still rise back up," James said. "During the City-Poly game we figured we were going to lose after they went ahead (20-14), but he just wouldn't let us down.

"We lost in overtime when Adrian just ran out of gas," James continued. "But I won't forget it. He had so much hurt losing that game. This year I'm going to work hard, be a leader and make sure that doesn't happen."

Petrides is counting on it. With Coxson gone he's looking to James to take over the defense and set an example for the underclassmen.

"I expect him to be a leader and one of the top players in the league and conference," Petrides said. "He has to step into that role."

James is already embracing it. Not only is he encouraging his teammates to train and lift weights, but he's starting his own rigorous routine.

James is working with a special trainer from a group called Next Level Nation. He does 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups and 100 dips every day, in addition to weightlifting and running. When he's tired, he just remembers losing to Poly and missing the playoffs.

"I'm preparing now for those situations when we're too tired to play and I have to keep going," James said. "When my team is down, I know how to get them back up."

James points to the game against Dunbar last year as his defining moment. It was a scoreless game late in the third quarter, but Dunbar scored a touchdown, sucking the life out of City. In the fourth quarter, Dunbar threatened again inside the City 10-yard line. They handed off to Nathan Ayers -- one of the state's leading rushers -- who sprinted to the outside. But James raced to the sideline, tracked down Ayers, wrapped him up and forced a fumble.

"We lost our energy after they scored, but I kept on going, kept playing hard and never gave up," James said. "When I made that hit and forced the fumble, everyone seemed to feed off that intensity."

James carried that tenacity all season and quickly became one of the most feared defensive ends in Baltimore City. With a quick first step and a powerful punch, he turned left tackles into revolving doors. James recorded 62 tackles and a team-leading 12 sacks.

"He's very strong and very fast in those first couple of steps," Petrides said. "He can bull-rush you with his power and he's quick enough to go around you."

James' forte is rushing the passer; he prides himself on his sack totals. While a dozen sacks is nothing to be ashamed of, James is setting the bar even higher next year.

"It's going to be hard, but I want to double my sack total," he said. "You're going to see me bringing the pain on every play."

Ironically, James was supposed to be the guy absorbing the pain, not dishing it out. Petrides originally had him tabbed as a blocking fullback in City's power-running game. But then the coach implemented a spread offense, which made the fullback unnecessary.

"He's a devastating blocker; that's what he does best to be honest," Petrides said. "But in order to take advantage of his toughness, we put him at defensive end and he was one of the better ends in the league last year. So it worked out OK."

Petrides still sees fullback in James' future, perhaps at a college that uses a pro-style offense. But if a school likes him on defense, James could be an effective outside linebacker, where his size and quickness would be an advantage, according to Petrides.

Now the question becomes, Can James reach his potential?

"The talent is there," Petrides said. "Now it's up to him."

James, the self-proclaimed torchbearer, the successor to Adrian Coxson, is primed and ready.

"I'm going to show [college recruiters] something they can't turn down," he said. "I can play at the Divison I level."

Just another City legacy waiting to be fulfilled.