Ohio State's James Smith hype comes with a warning Alabama fans know well

One of the tougher pills for Alabama fans to swallow was James Smith's decision to enter the Transfer Portal following the season. The former 5-star recruit started 12 games for the Crimson Tide in 2025 and was expected to be a significant piece of the defensive line puzzle again in 2026.

But after Qua Russaw decided to enter the portal with an uncertain role behind Yhonaze Pierre, Smith opted to follow his friend and high school teammate. The pair were a package deal in high school, and they remained a package deal in the Transfer Portal, with both electing to take their talents to Columbus and sign with Ohio State.

Smith was a good, but never great, player at Alabama. Perhaps with the Buckeyes, he'll finally live up to his significant recruiting hype. Or perhaps not. Ohio State appears hopeful that he's going to turn into a dominant force that he just never was in Tuscaloosa:

Ohio State fans should be careful not to expect too much out of James Smith

In three years at Alabama, Smith racked up 3.5 sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss. He was a rotational piece as a sophomore and then a full-time starter in 2025. Smith would make some eye-opening plays every now and then, but he struggled with consistency throughout the season. He was also good for a boneheaded play here and there, too, much to the chagrin of the coaching staff and fans alike.

Smith came to Alabama as one of the top players in the country in the 2023 signing class. He was expected to eventually develop into a Quinnen Williams- or Da'Ron Payne-type force in the middle of the Crimson Tide's defense. That never materialized in his three seasons at the Capstone.

Perhaps he makes that kind of leap at Ohio State. Buckeyes DL coach Larry Johnson is one of the best in the business, and if anyone can pull the talent out of Smith, it's him. But Alabama fans know that Ohio State ought to be cautious with the expectations for Smith and Russaw.

Both are supremely talented players, but neither lived up to the expectations and certainly didn't earn the raises they were seeking after the season. The production never matched the recruiting hype.

After losing Smith, Kalen DeBoer and his staff were aggressive in pursuing upgrades on the defensive line. They landed a trio of experienced transfers with the additions of Devan Thompkins (USC), Terrance Green (Oregon), and Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Mississippi State). It's a deep group up front this year, but Alabama needs someone to step up and be a difference-maker.

If that happens for Smith, it'll accelerate the angst in Tuscaloosa over the development of the defensive line under Freddie Roach, unless someone can really break out for the Crimson Tide.

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