James Smith holds the DT · Starter spot in Ohio State Buckeyes’s defensive tackle room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

James Smith is a 6'2", 314-pound defensive tackle from Montgomery, Alabama, who transferred to Ohio State after three seasons at Alabama. As a freshman in 2023, he appeared in nine games and recorded two tackles along with a fumble recovery across 76 snaps. His sophomore year in 2024 saw increased production with 13 appearances, 20 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sacks in 325 snaps. In 2025, Smith started 12 of 15 games, compiling 28 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks while logging 452 snaps on the defensive line and special teams.

Alabama2023 – 2025

Ohio State2026 — present