ORLANDO, Fla -- In a huddle on the Olympia High School practice field, one player rises above.

"I'm aware that there’s a target on my back so everybody’s giving their best them to me so I’m giving my best me to them," said Olympia senior defensive lineman Kamran James.

Standing at 6-6 and 268 pounds, his teammates look up to him in more ways than one.

"He wants everybody to be together, he wants everybody to work hard," said Olympia football coach Travis Gabriel. "The kids listen to him. He’s the type of personality that people like to gravitate to."

"I know I have to be a leader. I said to my role coach, 'when I see something I don’t like I say something.' So if thats a trait of leadership then I’d say im a leader," said James. "I don’t really like to toot my own horn but I set the leadership tone of this team."

Kam is a former basketball player who’s now transitioned his focus on football. 

"He already has the agility, the footwork," said Gabriel. "And now its just translating that to football."

Gabriel helped encourage Kam to play football, knowing the potential he has as an athlete. As a result, he is now the No. 26 ranked defensive lineman in his class nationally, according to 247 Sports.

"I knew all those years of sports and everything, I’d let it go to waste, no. So I knew I had to make sure everybody eats their words and I make all this worth it," said James.

Sporting a sticker on his back that reads, 'Beware the Dog,' Kam is aware of the target on his back as well.

"I was getting gear for my pads and everything and I thought it looked good for this season. I thought it looked cool. I should’ve got 'Beware of Gator.' I might talk to coach about that, see if they can make me one of those," James joked.

After dozens of offers including from top SEC football programs, the four-star recruit ultimately commit to University of Florida.

"Also any category when you have a decision to make in college where you wanna go, they won in every category for me," said James. "They made me feel like I'm a priority."

He’s locked in for the next four years, but Kam’s not letting his last moments with Olympia go to waste.

"I still do have more to prove," said James. "I had some downfalls and mistakes last season that I can make better this season so I’m always looking to better myself. Get my name bigger, my image better and just be the best me I can be."