The Carolina Panthers are eager to diversify their talent pool and the team might have found their next prospect in J’Mar Smith. The Panthers hosted Smith, along with defensive tackle Khalil Davis, for workouts on Tuesday, as per the news revealed by Aaron Wilson.
J’Mar Smith, 26, carries an impressive track record. Prior to being recognized as the 2019 C-USA Football Offensive Player of the Year at Louisiana Tech University, Smith was a 24th-round draft pick by the Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres in 2015. The versatile athlete, however, chose football over baseball and declined to sign with the Padres.
Smith’s journey took him to Louisiana Tech, where he excelled as a quarterback for four seasons with the Bulldogs. He demonstrated his impressive throwing prowess by recording 9,523 passing yards, 51 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions over 43 games.
From there, Smith had a brief tenure with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He later joined the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021. The following two seasons saw him join the ranks of the United States Football League’s Birmingham Stallions, helping the team secure back-to-back championships. Unfortunately, an injury forced him to miss out on the 2023 campaign.
The Panthers’ current roster includes No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, seasoned player Andy Dalton, and Matt Corral. Smith’s potential addition comes after the team released Jacob Eason and found itself in need of a fourth quarterback for their training camp.
J’Mar Smith’s versatility and impressive track record, especially with the Birmingham Stallions, certainly make him a promising prospect. The Panthers are hopeful that Smith could recover from his finger injury that saw him miss the majority of the 2023 USFL season and return to his prime form. Stay tuned as we keep you updated on the Panthers’ final decision.
