It looked like a punt that wouldn't be returned, bouncing twice on the grass.
Then again, Brandon James is used to doing things that aren't supposed to be done.
The 5-foot-7, 186-pound junior picked up the ball on the run, eluded some Hawaii defenders and then saw nothing but grass between him and the end zone.
The 74-yard punt return put the Gators up 21-0 with 5:35 left in the second quarter.
"Once you turn the corner and you see a little bit of open field, you're thinking in your mind that you want to go ahead and put it in (the end zone)," he said.
UF coach Urban Meyer, known for his obsession over special teams, called James the player of the game Saturday. He led all the Gators with 121 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
"That was a great return," Meyer said. "He's never prepared like he's prepared (now). He's in the best shape of his career, best strength of his career."
Another speedster, freshman Jeff Demps, was out on the field blocking for James and called the return "incredible."
"He made like five guys miss," Demps said. "I tried to get out and throw a block in, but obviously he didn't even need it."
The run was James' third career punt return for a touchdown, leaving him one shy of the school record, held by former wide receiver Jacquez Green (1995-97).
It also gave him a chance to show off his blockers.
"You have a lot of guys that (special teams means) the world (to)," James said. "They prepare for it so hard they put a lot of pressure on me because they want to see me return one so bad. So when I don't get one, I feel I'm letting those guys down."
Critics have said he is too short, too small. He uses the elusiveness to his advantage.
Coaches worked him at wide receiver during the off-season to ease the logjam at running back. James made a name for himself there too, earning the praise of wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales for his continued ability to make plays.
Now on Saturday, James was all over the field again. The junior lined up at running back, wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner and worked on the punt coverage team.
He had UF's first score of the game, a 1-yard dive up the middle. It was the first rushing touchdown of James' career.
The ball was spread around Saturday. The Gators tallied 255 yards rushing on 38 carries by 11 different players.
"Whenever you get the ball, you pressure yourself to make a play because you never know when you're going to get it again with all the playmakers we have," James said.
