J'Mar Smith had no issue with being a backup quarterback for the Birmingham Stallions. He came to the USFL to prove himself as a player, but also as a "servant leader."
Smith did a great job in that off-field role to start his USFL career. But he quickly became critical to the Stallions' on-field game plan after starting quarterback Alex McGough went down with an ankle injury in Week 1. Coach Skip Holtz had to call upon Smith to replace him.
"Coach Holtz just came up to me and said, 'Get ready, get loose, you're going in,'" Smith recalled in a recent interview with The Sporting News. "And I just went over just thought to myself, 'Man, that opportunity came quicker than I expected.' But I'm always ready."
Indeed, he was. Smith sparked an offense that had largely been stagnant in the first half and led the Stallions to a 28-24 victory over the New Jersey Generals. They overcame deficits three separate times in the victory, which began an eight-game winning streak and helped establish Birmingham as the team to beat in the USFL.
Smith's elevation to starter certainly played a role in the Stallions' championship run. While Smith credits himself with having the right attitude about his role with the team, he also believes his longstanding relationship with Holtz has been paramount to his USFL success.
"I can write a book about Coach Holtz," Smith said. "He's just a great person, a great guy, a great coach for me. I'm really glad I'm with him again. I can really say that."
Smith and Holtz have a history together that dates back to Smith's days at Meridian High School (Miss). The duo were together for five years at Louisiana Tech and won a bowl game in each of Smith's three years as a starter.
Now, they are competing for a title together again as the Stallions face the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL championship game. As Smith sees it, this is the culmination of his growth during his six years with Holtz.
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J'Mar Smith and Skip Holtz at Louisiana Tech
Smith was a dual-sport athlete in high school, and his success on the baseball field led many to believe he would pursue a college career in that sport.
However, Smith knew he wanted to play football. He got few offers to do so at the FBS level, but Holtz and his Louisiana Tech coaching staff maintained an interest in him throughout the process. Smith credited them with doing a good job of making him feel "at home" with his decision to join the Bulldogs.
Smith also explained that Holtz being "dialed in" with the quarterbacks helped Louisiana Tech to stand out. The offensive system Holtz operated also happened to fit Smith's strengths as a player.
"It's a really simple spread offense that just wants to get the ball around," he explained. "And for me as a quarterback, I love it."
Things didn't start perfectly at Louisiana Tech, with Smith saying he had some trouble adjusting to college coaching at first. He said that he was "always shutting down" instead of taking suggested improvements in stride.
As time went on, Smith was able to grow. He developed a strong relationship with Holtz and credited his coach with getting through to him and helping him to improve.
"Just talking to Coach Holtz and really understanding what being a coach is like and really understanding how he's coaching . . . and really understanding what's the meaning of being a coachable player, it really helped me grow throughout the years at Louisiana Tech," Smith explains.
The growth was evident. Smith served as a three-year starter for the Bulldogs from 2017 through 2019, completing 729 of 1,237 passes (58.9 percent) for 9,111 yards and 49 touchdowns to 20 interceptions in that time. He helped lead the team to a 25-14 record and three consecutive bowl game wins — enough to earn a chance in the NFL.
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J'Mar Smith's time with the Patriots in 2020
Smith declared for the 2020 NFL Draft but went undrafted, as was expected. He landed an undrafted free agent deal with the Patriots, which was notable, considering that they had just lost Tom Brady and didn't select a quarterback in the draft.
There was also a connection between Smith's father, Kenny Smith, and the Patriots: The elder Smith spent a couple of seasons with New England, but never got to play in any games for the team.
So it was for the younger Smith. He didn't get to play in New England, and never got on the field. NFL teams had to host Zoom meetings with their players during the 2020 NFL offseason as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and also had to take smaller rosters with them into training camp.
As such, Smith learned the Patriots' offense online but never got up to Foxborough; the team cut him the day he was supposed to fly up to prepare for camp.
Smith admitted he "hated" that he was cut just before he was supposed to report to camp, but he didn't let that get him down. But he still took a lot away from his time with the Patriots. He credited coach Bill Belichick and then-Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for helping him to develop, learn a new system and overall "learn how to be a better pro."
"It's no better system or organization to (learn) that other than the Patriots," Smith said. "The record speaks for itself; the Super Bowl wins speak for itself. So, you know, I really wanna thank the whole organization for the hospitality and the great mental growth for me while I was with them."
That mental growth proved valuable for Smith upon his arrival in Birmingham. It allowed him to better understand what his role with the Stallions would be, and how he could help Holtz — regardless of his placement on the quarterback depth chart.
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How J'Mar Smith helped Skip Holtz create a USFL contender
Smith wasn't expected to have a big role in the Stallions' offense. Birmingham selected Alex McGough in the first round of the 2022 USFL Draft, and there wasn't expected to be a competition for that top role.
"I knew coming in that he was the starter," Smith explained. "I never shied away from the backup role because I want to be a servant leader. I want to push myself and make myself comfortable with the uncomfortable."
Smith acknowledged that serving in that type of role wasn't a strength of his in college. He wasn't a vocal leader, so his main means of making an impact came on the field. He wanted to make sure he changed that with the Stallions.
What was the best way to do that? Smith thought his experience in Holtz's offense would allow him to become an extension of the coaching staff as Holtz tried to quickly implement his offensive system.
"Nobody knows how this offense should run more than me and Coach Holtz," Smith said. "Because I was the quarterback in that system."
Smith's plan was a success. He helped his teammates learn the calls, the depth of routes and all the nuances of Holtz's system while also drawing upon the lessons he learned at his other stops with the Patriots and CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Holtz greatly appreciated Smith's help managing the offense and expressed that to his quarterback.
"Coach Holtz called me a 'coach on the field' just helping the guys out," Smith said.
Of course, Smith's role became much more than that as the season went on. He took over for McGough after his injury against the Generals and started all but one game after that point. He succeeded in guiding the Stallions to a 9-1 regular-season record and a win over the New Orleans Breakers in the first round of the 2022 USFL playoffs.
All of those wins have certainly mattered to Smith, and a championship would be the cherry-on-top to the great season. Still, what he'll remember the most is getting to forge bonds with his teammates and, of course, getting a chance to play for Holtz again.
"I've had some of the most fun I've had in a long time," Smith said.
