DEXTER – James Livingston’s phone rang in early November of last year and after the call, he couldn’t believe what had just happened.
He had just finished a conversation with a member of Iowa State’s football coaching staff and had been offered his first – of now many – Division I football scholarships.
It was a dream come true but not one Livingston ever thought would actually come to fruition. But that was only the beginning of a three-month rise that has transformed the 6-foot-7, 275-pound offensive tackle into one of Michigan’s fastest rising high school football recruits for the class of 2022.
After the offer from Iowa State, Livingston has earned nine more from Arizona State, Eastern, Central and Western Michigan, Tulane, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and Akron, with more than half of those offers coming since Jan. 1.
From his first offer to his most recent from Tulane, he’s still in awe of the situation he’s in.
“I think they all feel quite the same but the first offer I got, I was just so surprised, and I was almost like freaking out,” Livingston told MLive during a phone interview Tuesday. “My hands were shaking, I was just smiling, and I couldn’t stop.
“They (offers) hold the same shock factor each time. It’s just a good feeling all around and I still have the same feeling because it’s good to know that a school wants you to come play for them and wants you be a part of their program.”
If you would have told Livingston years ago he’d be a 3-star recruit and ranked as the second-best 2022 offensive tackle in Michigan by the 247Sports Composite system – which averages ratings from three different recruiting services from ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports – he wouldn’t have believed you.
It wasn’t too long ago that he just was a tall, skinny freshman who caught the eye of Dexter coach Phil Jacobs on day one.
Prior to that, Livingston was – believe it or not – a running back and linebacker in middle school, but it quickly became apparent his future would be in the trenches.
Though he was still raw and had a ways to go before he could make an impact, Jacobs knew he had an integral piece to the puzzle to help turn Dexter’s football program around.
“The first time I saw him, of course I’m drooling, and I go, ‘We’ve got this kid for four more years,’” Jacobs said of Livingston in a phone interview. “Just in seeing the classes that we had around him with the athletes and the offensive line to go with him, we knew he was going to be the focal part of our offensive line and we knew he was going to be our left tackle for sure.”
A rising standout
It’s never been hard to miss Livingston when he’s out and about. He entered the world as an 11-pound, 9-ounce baby and was always the tallest kid around growing up.
Once he became enamored with football in the fourth grade, the next step was finding the confidence to take his talents to the next level.
He developed that confidence from bulking up in the weight room and watching the movie The Blind Side, which is the story of former NFL tackle Michael Oher.
The movie taught him the importance of being an offensive lineman and made him eager to help his team.
With belief in himself intact, and after gaining experience in as a sophomore, he became one of the Ann Arbor area’s top offensive linemen, securing all-conference and Ann Arbor Dream Team recognition last season as a junior.
“I just felt like this year I was a lot more relaxed and confident,” Livingston said. “I had played on varsity for a year (in 2019), so I felt like this was the start of my time.
“I felt more confident, so I tried to make myself and my line feel more confident this year and make us think that we could do big things.”
Though his name is out there, and more offers will most likely come his way, Livingston doesn’t need the recognition. After all, he’s a lineman and they usually don’t get the publicity that skill players do.
But what brings him joy on the field is when he’s able to make the perfect block to spring a teammate for a big play. Knowing he helped the offense score a touchdown is all the credit he needs.
“I would say to make a good offensive lineman, you need to have a great deal of unselfishness because you don’t really get too much glory,” Livingston said. “You’re not the one scoring touchdowns and getting all the big attention, but I feel like it’s a very rewarding job and it’s a good job.”
Only the beginning
As his name continues to grow on the recruiting trail, Livingston still reminds himself of how far he’s come.
“There are times where it feels like this is all so crazy and almost unreal and there’s just times where I’m just sitting there and can’t believe this is happening and it feels like a crazy experience and I wish it could go on forever,” Livingston said. “It’s just crazy to be honest because I never really saw myself when I was little getting this opportunity. I dreamed about playing Division I college football and stuff, but now that it’s becoming reality, it’s just insane. I don’t think my pass self would believe it.”
It’s clear Livingston has the size to not only compete at the high school level but the next two as well, what separates him from others is not his physical attributes, but his mental fortitude, Jacobs said.
“When you coach him, he listens to you as opposed to just shaking his head and nodding like a lot of kids today,” he said. “They listen to you, but they don’t hear what you’re saying. This kid listens with intent and every time you address him, he goes, ‘Yes, coach, no coach.’ He’s that way to everybody. That’s how he is. As far as a character kid, they don’t come any better than him.
“His work ethic has been a work in progress, but the light switch has turned on and he is starting to figure out his body. He’s a grown ass man, and he’s just doing everything right. He’s a coach’s dream.”
Embracing the challenge
Obviously, with more recognition comes more expectations. There will be players who bring a little extra when they line up across Livingston.
He knows the expectations will be high and the spotlight will be on him, but he’s determined to make sure he stays focused on what’s most important.
“I’m honestly just trying to stay humble,” Livingston said. “I’m just a kid from Dexter, Michigan. I love this town and the people in it and I’m just going to go out there and not really think about all the media and offers, I’m just going to go out there and focus making my blocks.”
Jacobs has seen his fair share of quality college prospects having coached for more than three decades and the potential is there for Livingston to be among the best Jacobs has been around.
“Without a doubt, he’s got the ability to be one of the top two linemen I’ve coached,” Jacobs said. “It’s hard to say overall player-wise because I’ve coached some really good ones in the last 30 years of coaching.
“They all bring something different to the table just like James. I’ve never coached a kid that’s 6-foot-8, 300-pounds, that’s what he’ll be next year. He’s just a special kid. As far as quality kids, he’s right there at the top.”
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