Boston College was a last chance for Grayson James. Now, he’s got the starting job.

Grayson James and his parents were ready to wake up at 4 a.m. and make the nine-hour drive from Duncanville, Texas, to Martin, Tenn., on a Saturday morning in early January.

Then a call came the day before, from Football Championship Subdivision school University of Tennessee at Martin, with the unsettling news that the Skyhawks would no longer have a spot for James. Once a highly regarded prospect, he was quickly running out of options in the transfer portal after leaving Florida International.

“At one point, I didn’t even know if I was going to have anywhere to go,” James said.

A few days later, James unexpectedly garnered interest from two Division 1 schools – Boston College and Bowling Green. BC assistant Darrell Wyatt reached out, and James visited campus and fell in love with the academics, program, and area. His father, Shelby James, called it a “no-brainer.”

James started classes late, on Jan. 18, and emerged as the No. 2 quarterback in spring ball. He backed up starter Thomas Castellanos early in the season and steered the Eagles to a comeback win over Western Kentucky when Castellanos was out with a concussion. He then replaced Castellanos and fueled BC to a season-salvaging, come-from-behind triumph over Syracuse.

Head coach Bill O’Brien named James the starter early last week, which prompted Castellanos to leave the program. Now, just 10 months after wondering what his future held, the 6-foot-3-inch, 226-pound junior James has helped revamp a previously sluggish Boston College (5-5, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) passing attack heading into Saturday’s showdown with North Carolina (6-4, 3-3) at Alumni Stadium.

“He’s like a general on the field,” BC wide receiver Reed Harris said. “Everybody in the huddle respects him.”

That mind-set, of taking command of a game, is a skill he developed at a young age. Shelby James, a diehard Oklahoma fan, placed a ball in his son’s hands when he was a baby. Shelby and his wife, Ashlee, plopped Grayson between them and held his hands out so he could get in on the action.

James played with older competition, and in third grade, he took over as his flag football team’s quarterback when the fifth-grade starter got injured. A major growth spurt came before his junior year, and he put up staggering stats at both John Paul II and Duncanville, leading each team on deep postseason runs.

He leaned on the wisdom of his quarterback coach, Kevin Murray, the father of former Oklahoma star and No. 1 pick Kyler Murray. James met Kyler multiple times and picked his brain.

James earned a spot at the Elite 11 quarterback camp, where he proved he belonged among some of the premier players in the country, including 2024 No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams.

“The competitive part of it was nice, to see who was the cream of the crop and see where you stand, and finding out you’re right there with them,” James said.

COVID stunted his recruiting process, and he ended up choosing Florida International in large part because former North Carolina and NFL QB Bryn Renner was there. Renner, who will attend Saturday’s game against the Tar Heels, taught him what it takes to succeed in college.

James entered as the fourth-stringer and emerged as the No. 2 option out of camp. He appeared in six games in 2021, completing two-thirds of his passes and flaunting his potential.

He lost the competition entering his sophomore year, but when the starter was injured, James seized his moment. He earned All-Conference USA honorable mention honors in a strong individual season.

James started Week 1 his junior year, then was replaced and ended up redshirting.

“He stayed ready,” Shelby James said. “He never complained. He never whined.”

As agonizing as the experience was in the moment, James believes it benefited him long term.

“If it wasn’t for that, I would say it wouldn’t have been as easy to handle the situation this season,” Grayson James said. “I’m definitely thankful for that.”

People constantly told the James family that Grayson would never get a shot as long as Castellanos was at BC, but that didn’t deter him. James, who leans on his faith and work ethic, didn’t hesitate.

Tight end Kamari Morales said James has been a “true professional” since he arrived on campus. He believes the coaches saw that, noting that it’s no surprise he’s been able to come in and execute how he has.

James missed time in training camp and early in the season with a strained lat. When he was healthy, it was clear to observers that there wasn’t much, if anything, separating James and Castellanos. James is significantly taller, throws a crisper ball, and fits O’Brien’s scheme better. With Castellanos’s magic as a runner nonexistent, the switch to James made sense. When his opportunity came, he was ready.

James said there was “never any bad blood” with Castellanos, adding that they constantly pushed each other and competed at a high level.

O’Brien credited James for his consistency and the way he studies the game. While there’s still room to grow situationally and as a decision-maker, the Eagles now have a legitimate threat in the passing game that was missing the bulk of the year.

“He’s really what you’re looking for at Boston College,” O’Brien said. “He’s got all the intangibles that we’re looking for. Very proud of Grayson.”

James is thankful that the program took a chance on him, and said O’Brien and the staff have helped him become a better version of himself.

Shelby said excelling at this level was always the plan, from the time Grayson was born. The James family hoped it would happen sooner, but they’re incredibly grateful for what’s transpired.

“It’s really a dream come true,” James said. “When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was be a Power Five quarterback. For it to finally be real, and to be happening now, is something I don’t take for granted at all. It’s absolutely surreal.”