J’Mar Smith, the quarterback for the Birmingham Stallions, has transformed his journey from working at Dunkin’ to leading his team into the UFL playoffs. His story is one of resilience and determination, marked by a significant injury, a brief retirement, and an unexpected return to football. Smith’s relationship with Stallions coach Skip Holtz has been instrumental to his success. Their relationship has now gone full circle, having first met when she recruited him back in 2015.
In early March, Smith began his nearly 10-hour drive from Birmingham to Arlington, Texas, to join the UFL’s training camp. His dedication to the sport never wavered even after dealing with a myriad of obstacles during this past year. After tearing a ligament in his right hand, he missed all but one game during the 2023 season. Smith’s short retirement spread a wave of concern that his football life was over. In truth, it laid the groundwork for an extraordinary resurgence.
After returning home from Ruston, Louisiana, Smith applied for ten different jobs in an effort to find stability while he navigated his next steps. His days quickly turned into 5 a.m. shifts at Dunkin’ where he brewed coffee, frosted doughnuts, and rang up customers. He really loved real early mornings. The other part of his day was filled with strenuous workouts under the tutelage of a private quarterback coach and taking fun online classes toward his master’s degree.
Smith’s return to the field didn’t come without challenges. He played as the No. 3 QB during a tight 24-20 defeat vs. the Stallions’ in-state rivals. His first start resulted in a narrow 29-28 defeat against the St. Louis Battlehawks, which brought shaky throws and a sense of uncertainty. Smith recovered and went on to win two of his next three starts. He led the league with 758 passing yards on the year.
Smith’s road back to football was a reflection of what he discussed with his friends and mentors. Demetric Price, a longtime friend, said Smith was griding even when he was mentally off-kilter. “He was working hard at it even though his mindset was all over the place,” Price said.
Smith reflected on his mental state during this tumultuous period: “I felt like I was forcing myself to do something I wasn’t comfortable with, and it kept eating at me mentally,” he shared. Whatever the reasons, he clearly needed to take a step back. This break was important for him to mentally reset himself to face the battles he was about to have.
“Sometimes, man, you have to take a step back to take two steps forward.” – Demetric Price
With the right support from peers and mentors, Smith found his opportunity to succeed waiting just around the bend. When they first started having discussions about Smith’s possible return to football, Price said it felt like that was going to be the case.
For Smith, the true turning point came when he simply decided to play. He promised to stop playing when “the gas tank runs out.” So, it was a blessing when Holtz called as an opportunity opened up when starting quarterback McGough got hurt. After they exchanged numbers, Smith had a hard time reaching the new coach. He was excited to get back with him after playing at Louisiana Tech from 2016-19.
“They told me they would love to have me if I was done playing football.” – J’Mar Smith
Even as he battled disappointment and the jitters, J’Mar Smith’s determination was unshakable. He stated, “I just had to figure it out. Figure out what was best for me, what was the next step.” His perseverance served him well as he took risks and followed his desire to play the sport of football at the collegiate level.
Smith, too, is preparing to start on Sunday against the Michigan Panthers in the UFL playoffs. The excitement is palpable as he hits the stage for his return! Skip Holtz commented on Smith’s situation: “You’re talking about a guy that really hadn’t played football in 2½ years.” The story of Smith’s journey grows even more incredible. He’s now unanimously looking ahead to an exciting playoff run.
Leave a Reply