Rose Bowl 2012: Ducks' LaMichael James Primed for Massive Game vs. Wisconsin

LaMichael James is primed to go off against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl.

Beware Badgers, this Duck really knows how to fly, so don't say I didn't warn you when he goes off for 200-plus and a few scores.

OK, so maybe that is a tad bit of an exaggeration, even though it's completely possible. Either way, the kid's going to have a great game.

Unfortunately for James, 2011 has been somewhat of a disappointment.

Last year he was a Heisman contender and put up some incredible numbers with 1,731 yards, 21 touchdowns and three touchdowns through the air.

This season hasn't been as kind to James though. He missed two games because of a dislocated elbow, essentially pulled him out of the national spotlight.

He still somehow managed to rush for 1,646 yards and 17 touchdowns, which is amazing considering the two games he missed.

With numbers like that it's hard not to think James will have a big game against Wisconsin. But there is one final factor: the NFL.

Questions about whether or not the Oregon junior will enter the NFL have been following him for a while now. According to Steve Summers of educk.com, James isn't going to think about the draft just yet:

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The question James has fielded several times since the end of the regular football season though—the one about him moving onto the NFL—was asked later on in the media conference.

"I would be a fool not to consider it," James admitted when asked if the NFL is something he'd consider after the season is completely over. "I considered it last year but it doesn't mean I'm going to leave. Doesn't mean anything. I'm not going to think about that until next week. I have to talk about things like that with my family and see what's the best thing for me. The best thing for me is looking forward to playing a great team like Wisconsin. My teammates come out here and practice hard each and every day, and so for me to come out and say, hey, I'm going to think about the NFL right now is totally selfish of me and I'm not going to do that." 

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How much will the thought of the NFL draft play into this game?

To be frank, I think it's going to have a huge impact.

Not only will James be playing for his teammates and school, but he's technically going to be auditioning for the NFL on one of college football's biggest stages.

With the year he's had dealing with injury, having a breakout performance against a Big Ten team like the Badgers would be huge, even if he decides to come back for one more year.

If he decides to go to the NFL, it would be a huge piece of film that teams will latch on to. If he decides to come back, it's just another great accomplishment in his prolific Oregon career.

It's a win-win, and he's got the talent to make it happen. James is going to have a massive Rose Bowl and he's going to run all over Wisconsin.