It’s not very often that a former FCS star comes back to the program he originally called home after leaving for the next level. On Saturday, though, it happened for Idaho State and standout receiver Chedon James. James, who left the Bengals after the 2023 season, is now officially back in Pocatello after trying his hand out at the FBS with Fresno State, perhaps setting a new precedent for the subdivision and, at the same time, opening up a new potential for ISU moving forward.
James turned in a terrific
season for the Bengals two years ago, catching 102 passes for 1,045 yards and eight scores. That production earned him not only first-team All-Big Sky honors but also heavy interest from schools at the next level. Several programs wanted him and, ultimately, he decided to take his talents back to his home state of California and inked with Fresno State before the 2024 season. But, as enticing as linking up with the Bulldogs may have been at the time, James saw his numbers take a significant dip that fall. In his one season with Fresno State, James appeared in just four games, snagging a mere two balls for 41 yards.
It was very clear after that year that the FBS jump was not the right fit and, fortunately for James, he got the opportunity to transfer again and get a second chance on his college career as he entered his junior season. Incarnate Word came calling and James heeded that call. He joined a Cardinals team that, by many folks’ measure, was going to achieve great things last fall. Once again, though, fate had other plans for both he and UIW.
While his statistics did improve from what they were at Fresno State, his production was once again held largely in check by his standards. With the Cardinals in 2025, he caught 42 passes for 494 yards and four touchdowns. For many FCS receivers that’s a solid season and he did see the field a lot more. For James, however, it was still a far cry from what he accomplished at Idaho State. Seldom does the chance to come back and give it another go with a player’s original team pop up. For James, though, that very thing has happened and, as of this weekend, he’s taking full advantage of it.
The Bengals reached back out to their former star and did what very few college teams do, inviting him to return for his upcoming senior season after not one but two Division I transfers. James took the invite and has decided to re-join ISU for the upcoming 2026 campaign; a move that will not only likely help both parties but one that… if it works out… could actually make other FCS institutions rethink how they approach the portal in the years to come.
It is no secret that opting to enter the portal as a lower-level player is a huge gamble on many fronts. If the goal is fo get noticed by the NFL, then making the FBS leap is not always the play. In fact, more times than not, moving up to that tier only results in a decrease in playing time and, thus, exposure. For many, the unfortunate truth is that making such a move often results in their collegiate career dying a slow death. Not only that, though, the team that lost that talent also usually suffers as well. It is, in many ways a lose-lose situation. James and Idaho State, though, may have just forced a second look at what the transfer portal might actually offer in this modern and ever-fluid version of college football.
Again, *if* this works out and James sees a resurgence in his career with another stellar season for the Bengals after falling short over the last two years, it may just have other FCS teams trying out something similar. For the ex stars with remaining eligibility that just don’t pan out at the next level coming back to their old stomping grounds to try an resurrect their careers may just become more commonplace. Of course every individual team will have the choice of extending such opportunities and, in many cases, it may be deemed a burned bridge and nothing will ultimately come of it. But, the James experiment just might buck that idea, too.
The curtain call may be just what he and his old school need. Idaho State, after all, has shown glimpses of promise as of late, going 6-6 last season. With Jordan Cooke throwing passes, it feels like the program is close to breaking through. James might be just what they need and, if he is, second chances like this may become all the more normal. Only time will tell but what is for certain is the fact that James and ISU are breaking fairly new ground.
