Arizona Football: Meet RB Commit James Bohls, a rare talent

With National Signing Day now over for the Arizona Football team, the Wildcats got a good one in incoming Running Back James Bohls, who sat down to chat with us. 

Arizona Football Head Coach Jedd Fisch held a Zoom Meeting with fans following National Signing Day on Wednesday evening, and one of the biggest takeaways was his praise of incoming commit, James Bohls. “James Bohls is a Rare talent that can play both sides of the ball. I think that James is going to be a tremendous running back talent for us — He can return kicks.”

Bohls, out of beautiful San Clemente in Southern California, has a very heartening life story that has helped him to not only become a great all-around athlete but a great young man.

Arizona Wildcats Football

He is a two-sport athlete that runs track and plays football at San Clemente High School.  In track, he participates in the 100-meter and 4×100 relay events. The fastest 100 he’s ever ran was in his junior year: He ran an 11.03 in the 100m at a practice meet before the Covid pandemic hit.

The future Wildcat running back has six sisters and two brothers, and his journey to where he is now is amazing. “I was adopted from Liberia in Africa at the age of six.” He’s grateful to be adopted by Frank and Nancy Bohls, who has been his parents for 13 years.

ZZ: Tell us about your hometown and high school experience.

JB: I live in San Clemente, California, in a little beach town with a lot of friendly and caring people. I go to San Clemente High School where I have gone for four years now. In my freshman and sophomore years, I played basketball, football and ran track. But when junior year hit I focused on football and track because they were the most helpful to me. I play Football for Coach Ortiz and the Triton family.

Putting on the jersey means a lot to me and the players who have played before and for people like Nick Pasquale make the game more meaningful. I have played varsity under Coach Ortiz for three years and he has always believed in me from the beginning. Since freshman year he has pushed me to do big things on and off the field. I always had the best RB coach, Coach Wood. He has always been in my corner and has made me the hard worker, good teammate, and friend that I am today.

ZZ: I see you will be a running back instead of a linebacker, is that exciting for you?

JB: I’ve played RB for the Tritons for four years now. I just love catching and running with the ball in my hands and embracing contact. The best thing is powering through the defense to get into the end zone. I am 6-foot and I weigh 200 pounds.

ZZ: What went into your decision to choose the UofA? What was the moment you knew you wanted to be a wildcat?

JB: UofA coaching staff just treated me like family and I fell in love with the campus. They told me they have a big future for me and just leaving the Tritons to join the Wildcats felt like a perfect fit for me.

ZZ: How did the coaches convince you to be a running back instead of a linebacker?

JB: I’m happy to play any position they need help with I don’t care, all I know is I’m going get on the field as a freshman.

ZZ: What other players have you met? Are you on a group chat or anything?

JB: I have met JT Hands and I have all the commits of who are going to the UofA in a group and we talk all the time.

ZZ: What coaches have you talked to or are talking to? Do you feel good about the coaching staff?

JB: I talk to coach Graham. He’s the RB coach at the UofA, and I feel really good about the coaching staff and can’t wait to get there

ZZ: What are you looking to the most inside and outside of football?

JB: I’m looking forward to being a student-athlete still and working hard in the classroom, on the football field, and outside of that I happy to help the Tucson Community out.

ZZ: Tell me about your favorite musical artist and if you have a song that you play that gets you mentally ready for a game.

JB: My favorite artist is Drake and Juice WRLD. The three songs I play before games are Legends by Juice, No. 9 by Playboi Carti, and The Bigger Picture by Lil Baby.

ZZ: Do you feel you are a leader? Do you enjoy in-game pressure?

JB: I am ready for college football and to show people what I can do on the field and also, that San Clemente surf boys are no joke and we can ball!

We thank James for his time and it was great learning his story and we wish him much success and happiness in college in Tucson. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!