James Smith is a defensive lineman for UL Monroe who hails from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and attended Fork Union Military Academy. In 2025, his redshirt junior season, Smith appeared in 11 games and recorded 14 tackles, including one for loss, one sack, and one pass breakup. He registered three tackles in three separate contests against Coastal Carolina, South Alabama, and Texas State, and posted two tackles with a sack versus Arkansas State on September 27. Smith is entering his fifth year with the program.