James Smith

2025 Played in all 15 games with 12 starts ... contributed 28 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (-20 yards) and 2.5 sacks (-11 yards), to go with a pair of quarterback hurries and one pass breakup ... earned defensive (power) player of the week accolades from the Tide coaches for his output against ULM. Florida State: Got the start against the Seminoles and finished with three total tackles. ULM: Tied for the team lead in tackles with four on the night ... registered a career-high and team-best three tackles for loss (-7 yards). Wisconsin: Notched two stops against the Badgers. Georgia: Got the start in Athens but had his night cut short due to a targeting penalty. Vanderbilt: Entered in the second half against the Commodores ... finished with one tackle on the day. Missouri: Rotated in along the defensive front and contributed one stop. Tennessee: Tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including one sack (-2 yards). South Carolina: Tallied two stops in Columbia, including one tackle for loss (-2 yards). LSU: Recorded one tackle and a quarterback hurry against the Tigers. Oklahoma: Notched one stop on the day. Eastern Illinois: Contributed to the Tide's shutout effort. Auburn: Was a disruptive presence up front all night ... finished with five total tackles, including one sack (-6 yards), in the Iron Bowl. Georgia: Recorded one tackle in Atlanta, including half a sack (-3 yards), to go with a quarterback hurry. Oklahoma: Notched one pass breakup in the CFP First Round victory. Indiana: Rotated in along the defensive front in Pasadena. 2024 Grew into a key contributor along UA's defensive front, playing in all 13 games ... totaled 20 tackles, including 3.5 for loss (-16 yards) and one sack (-13 yards) ... added five quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups. Western Kentucky: Recorded three tackles in the season opener ... also contributed a pair of pass breakups and one quarterback pressure on the night. USF: Pressured the quarterback once against the Bulls. Wisconsin: Made one tackle in Madison. Georgia: Totaled one stop against the Bulldogs. Vanderbilt: Registered three tackles on the day, including one for loss (-1 yard). South Carolina: Rotated in along the defensive front. Tennessee: Saw time in a rotational role against the Vols. Missouri: Pressured the quarterback twice and added one tackle. LSU: Finished with three tackles in Baton Rouge. Mercer: Recorded two stops on the day, including half a tackle for loss (-1 yard). Oklahoma: Tallied two tackles against the Sooners. Auburn: Notched one quarterback hurry in the Iron Bowl. Michigan: Spent the day in the Wolverines' backfield ... recorded four tackles, including two for loss (-14 yards) and one sack (-13 yards). 2023 Made an impact in his first season in Tuscaloosa, working in nine games ... recorded two tackles and a fumble recovery. Middle Tennessee: Notched one stop in his collegiate debut. USF: Recovered a fumble against the Bulls. Ole Miss: Rotated in along the Tide defensive front. Mississippi State: Saw time against the Bulldogs. Texas A&M: Worked along the defensive line in Bryan-College Station. Arkansas: Rotated in up front against the Razorbacks. LSU: Earned snaps on defense in the top-15 matchup. Kentucky: Saw time against the Wildcats. Chattanooga: Recorded one tackle on the day. High School and Personal Data Powerful defensive lineman with impressive size and speed ... a five-star recruit by ESPN.com and On3 along with earning the same rating on the 247Composite and On3 Consensus ... the top defensive line prospect and No. 1 player in Alabama while also being tabbed the No. 8 recruit overall by On3 ... Rivals.com's No. 18 prospect nationally, the No. 2 defensive lineman and top player from the state ... No. 11 on the ESPN300 and the No. 2 defensive tackle by the site ... also listed as ESPN's sixth-ranked recruit in the Southeast Region and the No. 3 player from Alabama ... the top player in the state, No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 14 recruit nationally according to the On3 Consensus ... a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247Sports ... Rivals' top defensive lineman, the No. 5 player in Alabama and the No. 52 recruit in the nation ... No. 33 on the Top247 list and the site's fourth-ranked defensive lineman ... the No. 20 player on SI.com's SI99 rankings of the top high school seniors in the class ... selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... coached by Marcus Gardner at Carver High School ... chose Alabama over Auburn, Georgia and Florida State