:James Fenderson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1976)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = James Fenderson
| image =
| caption =
| position = Running back
| number = 27, 48, 30
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|10|24}}
| birth_place = Long Beach, California
| death_date =
| draftyear =
| draftround =
| draftpick =
| undraftedyear = 2001
| high_school = Mililani (Mililani, Hawaii)
| college = Hawaii
| pastteams =
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2001|2003}})
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2004}})*
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 79
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 4.6
| statlabel3 = Receptions-yards
| statvalue3 = 7-43
| statlabel4 = Touchdowns
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Total tackles
| statvalue5 = 13
| pfr =
| cfl =
| afl =
| highlights =
| HOF =
| CollegeHOF =
}}
James Edward Fenderson Jr. (born October 24, 1976) is a former American football running back. Fenderson played college football at Hawaii after transferring from Long Beach City College. An undrafted free agent, Fenderson played for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League from 2001 to 2003.
Early life and college career
Born in Long Beach, California, Fenderson attended Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii. Fenderson lettered in football, basketball, and track at Mililani High and graduated in 1995.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010411002418/http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu:80/Fball/fenderson_james.html|archivedate=April 11, 2001|title=James Fenderson Jr.|url=http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Fball/fenderson_james.html|publisher=University of Hawaii at Manoa|accessdate=October 2, 2020}}
Returning to California, Fenderson began his college football career on the junior college level playing at safety at Long Beach City College in 1996 and 1997.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041019091459/http://www.atlantafalcons.com:80/team/007/318/|archivedate=October 19, 2004|title=James Fenderson|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/007/318/|publisher=Atlanta Falcons|accessdate=October 2, 2020|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerf/fend00400.html|title=James Fenderson|publisher=Pro Football Archives|accessdate=October 2, 2020}} In 1999, Fenderson transferred to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he walked on to the Hawaii Warriors.{{cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Sep/05/sp/sp03a.html|title= Fenderson living a dream in New Orleans |last=Tsai|first=Stephen|work=The Honolulu Advertiser|date=September 5, 2001|accessdate=October 2, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020422214520/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Sep/05/sp/sp03a.html|archivedate=April 22, 2002|url-status=dead}} He played at running back in 1999 and 2000 under June Jones.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/james-fenderson-1.html|title=James Fenderson|publisher=Sports Reference College Football|accessdate=October 2, 2020}} In 1999, Fenderson played on 10 games primarily on special teams. He had 12 special teams tackles and two carries for 22 yards during a season where Hawaii went 9–4 and won the Oahu Bowl.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/hawaii/1999.html|title=1999 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Stats |publisher=Sports Reference College Football|accessdate=October 2, 2020}} During that season, Fenderson slept in his truck or teammates' dorm room floors while working part time to pay for his living expenses.
Being awarded a scholarship, Fenderson had a breakout senior season in 2000, leading the Warriors in rushing with 113 carries for 651 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He also had seven receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. However, Hawaii went only 3–9 in 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/hawaii/2000.html|title= 2000 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Stats |publisher=Sports Reference College Football|accessdate=October 2, 2020}}
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2001 NFL draft, Fenderson signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints on April 26, 2001. He was waived on September 7 before being re-signed to the practice squad. On December 13, the Saints promoted Fenderson to the active roster.{{cite web|url=http://www.neworleanssaints.com/playerbio.cfm?playerid=58|title=James Fenderson|publisher=New Orleans Saints|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405233524/http://www.neworleanssaints.com:80/playerbio.cfm?playerid=58|archivedate=April 5, 2004|url-status=dead}} Fenderson played in the final four games of the season on special teams and made three special teams tackles.
In 2002, Fenderson played in 16 games with one start, usually on special teams and as the backup to starting running back Deuce McAllister. Fenderson had his first NFL carry on September 15, an 11-yard run against the Green Bay Packers.{{cite web|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/09/21/sports/story4.html|title=Fenderson happy to be in NFL|last=Abramo|first=Nick|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=September 21, 2002|accessdate=October 2, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021026213704/http://www.starbulletin.com/2002/09/21/sports/story4.html|archivedate=October 26, 2002|url-status=live}} Fenderson finished the season with 13 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown, six receptions for 38 yards, two kickoff returns for 43 yards, and five tackles.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/james-fenderson/|title=James Fenderson|publisher=NFL|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708184950/http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/237104|archivedate=July 8, 2006|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 2, 2020}}
Fenderson played nine games off the bench in 2003, this time with four carries for 14 yards, one reception for 5 yards, and six tackles. Following a foot injury, Fenderson was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041019093131/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/007/320/|archivedate=October 19, 2004|title=Falcons sign RB Fenderson and P Kilgo|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/007/320/|publisher=Atlanta Falcons|date=March 22, 2004|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 2, 2020}}
On March 22, 2004, Fenderson signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Following the preseason, he was released from the team on September 6.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010055805/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/009/906/|archivedate=October 10, 2004|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/009/906/|title=Falcons claim three, release three|publisher=Atlanta Falcons|date=September 6, 2004|accessdate=October 2, 2020|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060708184950/http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/237104 NFL profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenderson, James}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Players of American football from Long Beach, California
Category:Players of American football from Honolulu County, Hawaii