Saskatchewan Roughriders trade punter James Smith to Calgary Stampeders

Photo courtesy: Cincinnati Athletics

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have traded Global punter James Smith to the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2023 CFL Draft and third-round selection in the 2023 Global Draft.

The seventh-round selection could become a fifth-round selection depending on the number of games Smith plays for the Red and White.

Smith punted twice for Saskatchewan during the pre-season and averaged 48.0 yards per kick.

Prior to turning pro, he played 49 games over four seasons at the University of Cincinnati and was all-American Athletic Conference each year, earning first-team honours in 2017 and 2018 and second-team recognition in 2019 and 2020.

He finished his career with the Bearcats as the school’s all-time leader in punting yards. Smith had 235 career punts for 10,245 yards and a 43.6-yard average. He had 43 kicks of more than 50 yards and 91 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

In 2021, Smith signed with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.