Fans of the University of Alabama football team are salivating over the depth of this defensive line.
People are now familiar with veteran players such as Tim Kennan III, Jeheim Oatis, Tim Smith, and Jah-Marien Latham.
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They want to see a young name like Keon Keeley become a household brand, yet there is another former five-star who desires to rumble up front. James Smith was larger than life at Carver High School in the 2023 recruiting cycle.
Alabama defensive lineman James Smith (47) runs drills during practice at Hank Crisp Indoor Facility in Tuscaloosa, AL on Monday, Apr 3, 2023.
Every program wanted the beast in the middle of Carver’s defense from Montgomery, Ala. He drew attention each week of the high school season with his impressive size, speed, and power. Smith chose Alabama over Auburn, Georgia, and Florida State, but Tide fans are now prepared to watch the sophomore dominate. The 6-foot-3, 296-pounder can play at tackle or end, but he makes for a better interior lineman. He posted two tackles and a fumble recovery in nine games last year, but Kane Wommack sees big things for Smith. Wommack highlighted an aspect that Smith is working on, but he is getting closer to being an impact player.
Alabama DC Kane Wommack answering my question on former 5-star James Smith on the DL:
“James is very talented. He does a tremendous job when he gets a 1-on-1 matchup, he takes advantage of it.”
Wommack wants to see Smith lean in more to the defensive framework.@TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/fRGnfD0ZHd
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) August 1, 2024
“James is very talented,” Wommack said Thursday after practice. “He does a tremendous job. When he gets a one-on-one matchup, he takes advantage of it. His encouragement has been to lean into the consistency of our scheme. You have to be able to play within the framework of the defense. Those are things we are seeing him make strides in from where he was spring time to where he is now, but consistency has to be proven over a long period of time.”
What Wommack is saying is Smith has all the potential in the world to be a game wrecker up front. He needs to play to that style and within the system of the defense in each practice. Smith is really good, but we will see if he can push a little more to earn more reps as a lineman. If he plays a marquee role in the rotation, Smith will do some special things on the line.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
