Riders sign Global punter James Smith
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Global punter James Smith.
Smith (six-foot-five, 235 pounds) was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and tried out for the Baltimore Ravens in October.
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The Australian played 49 games over four collegiate seasons (2017-2020) at the University of Cincinnati, becoming UC’s all-time leading punter and a four-time all-conference player. Smith joined the Bearcats as a true freshman and made his mark immediately after he kicked 64 times for a 42.0-yard per kick average and a First-Team All-American Athletic Conference selection. He went on to make a total 235 career punts for 10,245 yards and just three touchbacks with a 43.6-yard average (second all time at UC). Over his career he made 91 punts inside the 20 and 43 kicks over 50 yards.
The 27-year-old collected many collegiate career accolades culminating in an invitation to the 2021 NFL Combine and the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl. He was also a Ray Gun Award Finalist (awarded to the nation’s best punter) in 2018.
