COURTESY NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
UH alumnus James Fenderson got his first NFL carry last week.
Fenderson happy James Fenderson's journey from third-string running back at the University of Hawaii to backup for New Orleans was an improbable one.
to be in NFL
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comIn his second season with the Saints, Fenderson made the practice squad last year after signing a free-agent contract. He worked his way up to the 53-man roster for the final four games and is now serving as a backup to burgeoning star Deuce McAllister, who is also a second-year pro.
The 5-foot-9, 200-pound Fenderson is soft-spoken, often diverting attention from himself. Last Sunday, after making a special teams tackle against Green Bay, he didn't jump up and down and celebrate and look at the crowd and point to himself, as if to say "look at me," as some NFL players do. He simply undid his chin strap and walked back to the bench.
When asked for his biggest highlight as a pro, Fenderson said, "I wouldn't say that's happened yet. I'm happy to just be here. Just to get a tryout made me happy. Even if I had gotten cut last year, I still would have viewed the chance I got as a blessing."
The elusive and shifty Fenderson also had an 11-yard run against Green Bay, his first carry in a regular-season game.
"Basically, I'm running down punts and kickoffs, that's about it," he said.
Fenderson added that he would be one of the first running backs to step in if McAllister couldn't play; he's listed second to McAllister on the team's depth chart.
The former Mililani High School standout had a successful preseason in which he got plenty of playing time. In four games, he rushed for 72 yards on 27 carries and caught seven passes for 67 yards.
He thinks the Saints (2-0) are a better team than last year's 7-9 squad.
"This year we have more great receivers (such as rookie Donte Stallworth along with Jerome Pathon, who was acquired from Indianapolis, and Jake Reed, who was acquired from Minnesota) and the line is blocking well," Fenderson said.
"And we also have a coach (Jim Haslett) who is very fair and who wants to win just as bad as us. He's one of the fellas."
Fenderson also has a high opinion of quarterback Aaron Brooks and McAllister.
"Aaron and Deuce, they're great," he said. "They're professionals, and in a lot of ways, they're just like everybody else. What sets them apart is their heightened skill level and their ability to adapt a lot faster to different situations."
According to Fenderson, communication is the biggest key in developing teamwork in the NFL.
"It's all about communicating the linemen with the quarterback and the quarterback with the backs and the linemen with the backs," he said.
"My focus right now isn't just trying to make big plays. It's making sure I know the team as well as I can, and sooner or later, the big plays will come."
In 2000, as a Hawaii senior, Fenderson led the team in rushing with 651 yards and seven TDs and finished fourth overall in receiving with 30 catches for 216 yards and a score.
But he waited his turn, finally winning a starting job as the lone running back in the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense because of injuries to others.
Despite his big numbers as a senior, Fenderson, in his true unselfish fashion, rates his top college highlight as beating Fresno State in his junior year. The win qualified the Warriors for the Oahu Bowl. That season, he rushed the ball just twice, but proved his worth as a team player with 12 special-teams tackles.
The situation isn't too far off from what Fenderson is living now. Once again, he's waiting patiently for his turn.
National Football League
