LaMichael James Injury: What Does This Do to His 2012 NFL Draft Prospects?

Oregon Ducks star running back LaMichael James was off to another fabulous season and was having a career day against the California Golden Bears. With just 30 touches, he had 239 rushing yards and one touchdown. James was over 100 yards before the end of the first quarter. 

Then early in the fourth quarter, James put his arm down to try and break his fall and it happened. One of the most gruesome injuries in recent memory, his elbow popped out of place. 

James was carted off the field in a big cast and everybody expected the worst because they all saw the footage of what had just happened.

Everybody is thinking small-term as to what effect this could have on the Oregon Ducks season. Can they still make a BCS bowl game or win the Pac-12 without James in the lineup?

What about James possibly winning the Heisman trophy?

Well, surely those chances are gone if he ends up missing any games.

But thinking long-term, how does this injury affect his draft status in in the 2012 NFL Draft?

First off, it needs to be known that this is not a career-threatening injury or an injury that should affect him at all once he is healed. But teams will look at his injury history and see that as a problem. James is always getting banged up and, although an injury hasn't been as severe as this, he has left games before because of an injury.

If James was completely healthy in the first game against the LSU Tigers, who knows how that game would have turned out?

Despite all of the sexy numbers and jaw-dropping plays James provides us with on Saturdays, the fact is he is not a between-the-tackle runner. His 5'9", 185-pound frame will not allow him to carry the ball 25-plus times a game for an NFL team.

He is explosive and makes most of plays out in space. You can consider him a Darren Sproles- or Reggie Bush-type back. In the right offense, he can thrive. But at the same time, he can be a bust if he is not used right.

James has the potential to be a big playmaker at the next level and possibly even a star.

What helps James is the fact there isn't a deep draft class at the running back position this year. As of right now, I'd put James third—only behind Alabama's Trent Richardson and Miami's Lamar Miller.

This injury should not affect James and his status in the NFL draft.

The only thing that will are the questions that we had before this injury.