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W&L Alumnus on HBO's “Hard Knocks”

HBO subscribers and fans of the National Football League are no doubt familiar with the series “Hard Knocks,” which follows an NFL team through training camp and preseason.

The Cincinnati Bengals are in the spotlight this year, and that means that Washington and Lee alumnus James Urban, of the Class of 1996, is likely to be in front of the cameras from time to time. The program airs on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. (EDT).

James is in his third year as the Bengals’ wide receivers coach, after spending seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the first episode of “Hard Knocks,” James gave an interview about his receiving corps, which includes All-Pro A. J. Green. Last December, when the Bengals were in the playoffs, the New York Times featured story Green and quoted James at length.

Unfortunately for the Bengals, the initial episode of “Hard Knocks” also included segments in which  Green and another wide receiver, Andrew Hawkins, were both injured. Green is back at practice; Hawkins is not. But Urban had told the Cincinnati Inquirer earlier in an interview that this was the deepest group of receivers he’s had in Cincinnati.

A wide receiver and kick returner at W&L, James coached in college at Clarion State (Pa.) and Penn before joining the Eagles. Watch for James on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” when it airs tonight.

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