The 6-foot-6, 291-pound offensive lineman from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, fell from a third-floor balcony at a Days Inn motel.
Panama City police reported the accident happened on Friday, just shortly after 6 p.m. James died instantly upon his fall from the balcony and another Notre Dame recruit, Luke Mass, also fell from the balcony, but wasn't hurt.
James also considered Florida, Ohio State and Cincinnati and received offers from North Carolina, Alabama and Florida State, among others.