The Haverford School’s James Falk is a versatile tight end headed to Rice

When James Falk first approached Brian Martin with the idea of switching from the offensive line to tight end, The Haverford School coach wasn’t sure it was the right move.

Standing at 6-foot-6, and with footwork that Martin believed was the best on the Fords’ roster, Falk had all the pieces necessary to be a top lineman in the Inter-Ac. The Haverford native also had wrapped up a sophomore season in which he was a starting lineman.

Martin nevertheless gave Falk a chance to prove himself. Falk spent that summer in the weight room and on the practice field. From catching passes on the JUGS machine to practicing running patterns, Falk worked on all the elements of playing tight end.

Paired with his blocking ability, Falk’s newfound receiving skills helped him start to see results.

“In summertime, I sort of proved myself as I started being more comfortable with the playbook,” Falk said. “Knowing in and out of the playbook like the back of my hand, that helped 100% in my route running and in my understanding of our pass game.”

Falk’s commitment to the practice process was key in helping him transition to the tight end spot. It was his passion for the position that helped give Falk the motivation to put in countless hours on the practice field.

That offseason was the hardest that Falk’s parents had seen their son practice for a sport.

“I think in his heart, he always wanted to be a skill position player,” Falk’s father, Jim, said.

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When the fall rolled around, Martin saw Falk’s progression at tight end and made the position switch official.

“Having him at tight end, it’s almost like having another tackle in there as well,” said Martin, whose team has started 7-0 this season. “But he’s also a big target for us, and he’s got some soft hands, and he’s really good. … It’s the best of both worlds. He’s dependable both in the blocking scheme and in our passing game as well.”

Added Falk: “Honestly, it felt really good doing it. As it started to go on, everybody started to love the move more and more, and that was really my goal: proving people wrong and doing what I thought was best for me.”

As Falk’s game tape started to get discovered, he started to get noticed by college coaches. At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Falk already sits at a college-level size for the tight end position. Intrigued by his size, coaches wanted to see Falk work out. In those workouts, Falk was able to display his blocking and receiving ability.

Most recruits arrive at college with raw receiving talent, needing to learn the ins and outs of blocking. Falk’s offensive line background will help him skip that initial learning curve.

Falk received his first offer from Lehigh last May, and over the course of the summer, he received offers from the likes of Rice, Temple, and Bucknell. In the end, it was Rice that secured Falk’s commitment on June 22.

During one of his visits, Falk and his family had the chance to attend a barbecue at coach Mike Bloomgren’s house..

“Finding something or finding somewhere where I could call home [was important],” Falk said. “I talk to [Rice tight ends coach Jim Jackson] all the time. We have a really good relationship; he’s always checking in on me, asking how I’m doing.”

Said Jim Falk: “Overall, it was just this feeling like this could be extended family. When you combine that with the fact that it’s high-level football and an opportunity to get an amazing education and the opportunities that come from that, it was kind of a no-brainer.”