James Godwin ended a stellar collegiate career at Fayetteville State University in 1975 after breaking every Bronco rushing record and being drafted in the 16th round of the National Football League and signed by the New York Jets.
“James may surprise a few people,” new head coach of the Jets’ Lou Holtz said. “He has outstanding speed and was a very durable player in college, while receiving very little publicity for a great job of running the football.”
Godwin, a six-foot-two 210-pound running back with an impressive 4.4 - 40, was a two-time All-CIAA and All-American as well as the Broncos Most Valuable Player (’75). The two-year starter gained a total of 2,737 yards for his collegiate career. As a senior, he averaged 5.8 yards per carry, scored eight touchdowns while gaining 918 yards. He nearly averaged 102 yards per game. In 1974, he had his best season on the gridiron with 1,019 yards on 177 carries for nine touchdowns. In ’73 he ran over 800 individual yards with 11 touchdowns. The freshman on a football scholarship did not see any of the gridiron due to injuries suffered in the training season.
The Godwin (near Fayetteville), native and business major was named to the Mutual Network Black All-American First Team in 1975. He was also named to the Black Network News All-American Second Team. The Black College All-Americans is sponsored by Mutual Radio Network and General Motors Corporation. In the November 6, 1975 edition of the Johnson publication Jet Magazine, Godwin was named Player of the Week.
Mr. Versatile was the recipient of the Broncos “Best All-Around Athlete” Trophy at the 1974 FSU Sports Banquet.
Godwin excelled in track & field as an All-American with several track meet marks in the high jump. He also excelled at the 100-yard dash with a clocked time of 9.5 seconds. He received the team’s MVP award in ’73. At the ’74 NCAA Division II National Championship, held in Charleston, Illinois, Godwin finished fifth overall in the long jump with a leap of 24 feet and 8 ½ inches. His personal best in the long jump is 25-2 ½.
He was a track star before he became a football great. He never played football until the eleventh grade at Cape Fear High School. CFHS was a brand-new consolidated school in the county. Godwin, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association long jump champion achieved All-American, All-Conference, and All-City honors as a track star. He established a Duke- Durham Relays long jump record of 25’½”.
James Godwin was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
