Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman James Smith sent shockwaves across the landscape of college football when he took a shot at his former team and the Southeastern Conference in a viral social media post.
The comments surfaced in a viral post shared by the account “Silver Bulletin,” which highlighted the ex-Alabama player’s remarks criticizing the program and the SEC as a whole. The post quickly gained traction, particularly among rival fanbases, as it tapped into the ongoing debate over conference strength between the SEC and the Big Ten.
Smith transferred from Alabama to Ohio State during the offseason after a subpar career in Tuscaloosa.
🗣️ “When I came to visit it felt like [Nick Saban’s Alabama]…The intensity is different. Everything is so intentional.”
James Smith Compares Ohio State to Nick Saban-Era Alabama
Perhaps one of the most concerning statements for Alabama fans is that Smith compared the Ohio State program to the Nick Saban era of Alabama football, seemingly taking a shot at Kalen DeBoer and the current Alabama coaching staff.
“It kind of gave me that feeling back when I visited as a freshman with Saban, it kind of felt like that,” Smith said about Ohio State. …I feel like the intensity is different. …Everything is so intentional. Everything is already laid out. They have a new coaching staff at Bama, they’re still trying to learn and stuff. Here it’s already stable, they already know.”
Smith signed with Saban and Alabama as a member of the 2023 class and was a five-star prospect from Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama.
Should Alabama Fans Be Worried Over Smith’s Comments?
While Smith’s comments may not sit well with Crimson Tide fans, it’s worth noting he’s likely trying to endear himself to his new program.
Even though Smith was a former highly coveted prospect with a lot of potential. He only logged 50 career tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 37 games played for the Crimson Tide.
Put simply, Smith was a solid contributor at Alabama but never quite reached star status. He still has plenty of potential, but his comments as a former player shouldn’t be overvalued.
Former Alabama DL James Smith Takes Shot at Crimson Tide, SEC