UNRIVALED
Inside The Jersey featuring James Smith Williams of the NFL’s Washington Football Team
At UNRIVALED, we introduce sports fans to the pro athletes they haven’t heard enough about. You’ll hear from rising and overshadowed athletes who share their journey to becoming pros and their unique passions outside of their sport.
This Inside The Jersey focuses on Washington Football Team defensive end James Smith-Williams. He’s just starting his NFL career, but he is already accomplishing a lot both on and off the field.
Before being selected in the 7th round of the NFL Draft, James was an Academic All-ACC football player at NC State. He worked two internships at IBM in robotics, which led to a standing job offer with the company after his playing career is finished.
Smith-Williams is also the NFL’s 1st ambassador for SetTheExpectation, an organization that combats sexual and physical violence.
Check out the Q&A with James and don’t forget to listen to the podcast:
UNRIVALED:If you could be cast in a movie role, what role would you want to be cast in?
JSW: Maybe like an action star in the Expendables or something. They’re really cool. Just pretend to be that type of person for a day.
UNRIVALED: What is the vacation spot that you cannot wait to revisit?
JSW: My favorite place I’ve ever been to — the Dominican Republic. It was just beautiful. You have rainforest the beach. But within the United States, definitely San Diego. It’s like 80 degree weather every day. You can’t be beat it.
UNRIVALED: What is the meal that you request most often when you go home?
JSW: I think for me, when I go back home, it’s a fried pork chop, collard greens…good home cooking.
UNRIVALED: What is your favorite thing to do when you get some downtime?
JSW: Its actually to smoke meat on the grill at home. I have a Traeger and a smoke box and I’ll put some ribs on for 12 hours. I really enjoy cooking.
UNRIVALED: Do you have a go-to seasoning that you use?
JSW: I make my own. I get a feel for what I want that day; do I want my food spicy or do I want something sweeter. And then I try and pair it with the meat and the sides.
UNRIVALED: Okay, so what is your most recent splurge? Now, this could be food-related or it could be a recent personal purchase.
JSW: So, I’m obsessed with shoes. I have a collection that I’m very proud of. So that’s been my splurge purchases recently, even though we can’t go anywhere because of COVID-19 Outside of that I’ve been saving pretty well.
UNRIVALED: Now we’re going to head onto the field. What ritual or routine has to take place before every game?
JSW: I’m not super into rituals or superstitions but I have one thing I do before every game and I listen to a podcast on my ride over to the game. I think music kind of gets me a little too hyped up and the podcast keeps me nice and relaxed and calm, ready to play.
UNRIVALED: What’s the podcast?
JSW: It’s Small Town Murder and I really recommend it! It’s about true crime in small towns with a little bit of comedy.
UNRIVALED: Which NFL team did you cheer for growing up?
JSW: I was a Carolina Panthers fan, being I’m from North Carolina. That’s who I grew up rooting for.
UNRIVALED: Which coach or teacher still keeps in contact with you on a regular basis?
JSW: Actually, most of my high school coaches, we still talk, maybe, once a week. My position coach in college too. So, I’ve been pretty blessed that all of my coaches have pretty much kept in contact with me and I have relationships with all of them.
UNRIVALED: If you were not a professional athlete, what career field would we find you in?
JSW: I would probably be at IBM. I’ve interned there twice. It was a really cool experience working on some stuff with robotics.
UNRIVALED: What is the service or product that has changed your life at home?
JSW: I have to give it to the Traeger. I mean, it’s made me fall in love with cooking, so I give it to Traeger.
