By Brooke Cain

The News & Observer

ABC has named its first black “Bachelor” — a Raleigh, N.C., native and former Wake Forest University football player.

The naming of Matt James comes earlier than usual, since the show usually names the new “Bachelor” leading man at the end of the preceding “Bachelorette” season (and vice versa). Fans are due a new “Bachelorette” season, but filming has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But ABC says James has been on their radar for a while.

In a Friday release, Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment, said producers had met with James to be part of the current “Bachelorette” season, and with filming delayed, they got to know him more and agreed he’d be right for “The Bachelor.”

And frankly, it’s time for a black “Bachelor.”

Before the previous “Bachelor” season (the Peter Weber season), many fans begged the show to pick Mike Johnson, aka Big Mike, a favorite from the Hannah Brown season of “The Bachelorette.” (Mike instead went on “Bachelor in Paradise,” another “Bachelor” franchise spinoff.)

The show has previously had a black “Bachelorette,” Rachel Lindsay.

“We know we have a responsibility to make sure the love stories we’re seeing onscreen are representative of the world we live in, and we are proudly in service to our audience,” Burke said in the release. “This is just the beginning, and we will continue to take action with regard to diversity issues on this franchise. We feel so privileged to have Matt as our first Black Bachelor and we cannot wait to embark on this journey with him.”

ABC calls James “the total package,” noting strong family values, a good career and a record of giving back to the community. Local ABC affiliate, ABC11, wrote about James last year, profiling his ABC Food Tours initiative, which helps inner-city kids in New York City have the experience of eating in nice restaurants.

According to ABC, James majored in economics and played wide receiver at Wake Forest (if the “Bachelor” — Wake Forest football connection seems familiar, it’s because Tyler Cameron, from the Hannnah Brown “Bachelorette” season, also played at WFU).

As for when we actually get to see James being the new “Bachelor,” ABC gives us a firm 2021.