James Prather

Height:
6-4
Weight:
235
Position:
DL
Class:
First-Year
Hometown:
Memphis, Tenn.
High School:
Memphis University School

2018: Appeared in 13 games as a senior superback and made three catches for 23 yards … Set career-highs with two catches for 14 yards against Duke including a career-long 12-yard reception (9/8) … Made one catch for nine yards against Notre Dame (11/3) ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2017: Appeared in nine games, primarily as a short-yardage blocker and backup superback ... Also contributed on special teams and field goal units ... Hauled in his first career catch, a nine-yard reception, at No. 10 Wisconsin ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2016: Backup superback that pays a key role in short-yardage and goal line packages ... Appeared in all 13 games ... Made first career start at Michigan State ... Also contributes on kick return unit that ranked 26th in the country ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2015: Appeared in 10 of 13 games for the Wildcats as a special teamer ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2014: Redshirted his first season in Evanston.

High School: 2013 All-State selection and a two-time All-Region honoree ... As a senior, recorded 92 tackles, 17 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, seven QB hurries and two interceptions ... Finished his four-year varsity career as his high school's career leader in tackles for loss (58), sacks (20), QB hurries (26) and forced fumbles (eight), totaling 205 career tackles ... Named the 2013 AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School Defensive Player of the Year and a 2013 Commercial Appeal Best of Preps finalist ... Competed in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star game ... Team finished as state runners-up in both 2012 and 2013 with a 10-3 record each season ... Team captain ... Also a two-year varsity letterwinner in basketball ... Student Council Vice President and member of both the National Honor Society and Latin Honor Society.

Personal: Born James Porter Prather in Memphis, Tenn. ... Son of John and Hermenia Prather ... Attended same high school that produced Fred Smith, founder and CEO of FedEx ... Chose Northwestern over Navy, UConn, Northern Illinois, Memphis and Richmond ... Undergraduate major was comparative literary studies ... Enrolled in creative writing master's program.