James Simon, elite running back, sets busy spring visit schedule

Calvary Baptist Academy (Louisiana) star running back James Simon will visit several programs this spring

Calvary Baptist Academy (Louisiana) star running back James Simon is one of the most coveted ball-carriers in the country.

As a junior, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound back led his team to a Division III state championship, rushing for 191 yards and three touchdowns in a thrilling 

In total, he finished the season with 1,600 yards and 28 touchdowns, while averaging 8.3 yards per carry.

So, it should come as no surprise that Simon has racked up more than 20 scholarship offers.

Hoping to sort through those options, the Louisiana back shared his spring visit plans on social media this week, providing a clear glimpse at some of the contenders:

Full spring schedule!! Excited for what’s to come with these schools🤞 pic.twitter.com/C6MFj9MHga

— James Simon 🃏 (@jamesdean_31) March 11, 2024

The nation's No. 8 running back will kick things off with an in-state trip to LSU, who are viewed as the overwhelming favorites to secure his eventual commitment.

247Sports has several picks in for Simon's to choose the Tigers, while On3 gives Brian Kelly's program a 94.1 percent chance of ending up on top. 

Still, several other programs will have a chance to change that projection in the coming weeks, including Alabama (March 27), Texas A&M (April 5), Notre Dame (April 12), Texas (April 19), Louisiana Tech (April 22) and Miami (TBD).

Overall, three of the nation's top running backs in the class of 2025 are already off the board - St. Martin's Episcopal School (Louisiana) star Harlem Berry to LSU, Liberty Christian Academy (Virginia) playmaker Gideon Davidson to Clemson and Carver (Alabama) speedster Anthony Rogers to Alabama.

Could the Tigers assemble an early dynamic duo, or will another contender emerge as the team-to-beat for Simon?

This spring should go a long way to determining the answer to that question.

Junior season highlights