Florida Gators linebacker Shemar James was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 5th round with the 152nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. James is the 4th Gator off the board and the third in the 5th round.
In three years at UF, James combined for 166 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. James declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season.
“A very, very smart guy. Very hard working, and always focused and dialed in,” teammate Ja’Kobi Jackson said on what an NFL team is getting in Shemar James.
Standing at 6’1, 222 pounds, James is undersized for an inside linebacker and doesn’t necessarily have the straight-line speed to make up for the lack of size, logging a 4.69 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. However, James does possess short area quickness and is a good enough athlete to cover in space, making him a valuable selection in the 5th round. James could also see time on special teams in the NFL.
According to Spotrac, James is slotted to receive a four year, $4,622,648 contract with a $422,648 signing bonus.