Shemar James selected in fifth round of 2025 NFL Draft

Florida Gators linebacker Shemar James was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday. The Dallas Cowboys picked him No. 152 overall.

James declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 26 after his junior season and three years of starting at UF. He was only underclassmen to turn pro early from the Gators.

James started all 13 games last season, finishing second on the team with 64 tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, three pass breakups, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

James started first eight games of 2023 before a season-ending injury. He finished second on the team in tackles (55) and TFLs (5.5). He made 47 tackles and four starts as a freshman in 2022.

What is an NFL team getting in James?

“A very, very smart guy. Very hard working, and always focused and dialed in,” Florida linebacker James Robinson said. “It’s a big loss, losing Shemar.”

Mel Kiper on Shemar James

James played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and competed in the NFL Scouting Combine. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had high praise for James in February.

“The guy who everybody wanted coming out of the prep ranks was Shemar James,” Kiper said. “All these SEC schools, a five-star recruit, a great athlete in high school in a variety of sports. This kid had an injury in 2023 but this year he was outstanding. Second in tackles. LSU game he was all over the field, making plays. In that game, he had 11 tackles, two sacks, a couple pass breakups, and a forced fumble. This kid for three years when he was at his best looked like a guy who was just out there seeing things before everybody else did. Super instinctive, super aware, and he can do anything you want an off-ball linebacker to do. I mean, this guy can cover, he can go sideline-to-sideline, and he’s moving faster than everybody else because he sees it quicker,” Kiper said.

“Shemar James always popped in games. Okay? He always did. I go back to 2022, I’m looking at notes I had because I was checking players off if they were younger. Just circle and check them. He had multiple checks as a young linebacker at Florida. So, this is a guy after he was healthy, coming back from that injury in 2023, put together a heck of a season. He was doing it in Mobile. … Shemar James is a guy who diagnosis, diagnostic ability for a guy off-ball is going to be so key. He’s about 6-1 and a half, 230. Shemar James, hoo-hoo, this guy is gonna be a starting off-ball linebacker and he’s going to be I think a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker in the NFL.”

NFL Combine results

Prospect grade: 5.88
40-yard dash: 4.69 seconds
10-yard dash: 1.56 seconds
Vertical jump: 32’’
Broad jump: 9’ 9’’
3-cone drill: 7.09 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.27 seconds
Measurables: 6’ 1’’, 222 pounds
Arm: 31 1/2’’
Hand: 8 1/2’’

Draft analysis

“James flashes speed but has never really developed the recognition and response talent to chalk up playmaking production. He has some twitch in his movement and does a nice job of working past blocks, but he might not be able to anticipate with enough consistency to play ahead of NFL blocking schemes. James is athletic in space and can play special teams, but he might never be more than an average backup.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

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