J’Mar Smith’s rise in football is no surprise when you consider the influence of his athletic and devoted parents, Kenny Smith and Vashonda Davis.
Jamarius “J’Mar” Smith has established himself as a prominent quarterback in the United Football League (UFL), currently playing for the Birmingham Stallions.
Born on September 24, 1996, Smith’s journey to professional football began at Meridian High School in Mississippi, where he showcased exceptional talent as a multi-sport athlete.
As a high school quarterback, Smith displayed remarkable skill, throwing 26 touchdown passes with zero interceptions in 298 attempts during his senior year.
His talents earned him a scholarship to Louisiana Tech, where he developed into a standout college quarterback.
During his redshirt senior season, Smith passed for 2,977 yards with 18 touchdowns, earning the title of Conference USA’s 2019 Football Offensive Player of the Year.
After going undrafted in the NFL, Smith signed with the New England Patriots but was waived before training camp began.
His football journey then took him through the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before finding success with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL (now UFL), where he led the team to a championship victory in 2022 under his former college coach, Skip Holtz.
J’Mar Smith’s Greatness Starts With His Parents
J’Mar Smith’s exceptional athletic ability and character come as no surprise when you look at his parents.
His father, Kenny Smith, set the foundation for J’Mar’s football career. Kenny was a standout athlete himself, selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft as a defensive lineman.
He later had stints with the New England Patriots between 2007-2009, giving J’Mar an early connection to the organization that would eventually sign him as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Kenny wasn’t just a football player; according to J’Mar’s high school coach Larry Weems, he was also “a heck of a baseball player.”
Weems, who coached both father and son two decades apart, recalled Kenny’s impressive power at the plate:
“They had a baseball park at the city field that must have been 390 feet straight away with an apartment building on the other side of the street. Kenny hit one out there on those apartments. The genetics run.”
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This athletic lineage provided J’Mar with natural talent and an understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Former Meridian High School assistant coach James Miller highlighted this advantage:
“He was a coach on the field for us, and that comes from growing up with an NFL background with his dad.”
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On the other side of J’Mar’s support system is his mother, Vashonda Davis, who has been his constant cheerleader throughout his career.
Davis is described as a “football fanatic,” deeply invested in her son’s athletic journey.
When J’Mar was signed by the Patriots in 2020, Davis’s reaction revealed her passionate support.
After confirming the news during a FaceTime call with her son, Davis recalled,
“My daughter and I screamed and hollered, then we went to my parents’ house to wait on him.”
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For Davis, seeing her son reach the professional level was overwhelming. She shared,
“While there aren’t words that can really express how I feel, just seeing him get this opportunity to play in the NFL is not only exciting for him and our family but also a blessing.”
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The combination of Kenny Smith’s athletic pedigree and Vashonda Davis’s enthusiastic support created the perfect environment for J’Mar to develop not just as an athlete but as a leader with exceptional character.
Former coaches consistently praise Smith’s intelligence, work ethic, and natural leadership abilities—qualities that stem from his upbringing.
MHS athletic trainer Chad Acton summed up the impact of Smith’s family support:
“When you have family support like that, you’re going to be successful.”
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The values instilled by Kenny Smith and Vashonda Davis are evident in how J’Mar approaches both sport and life.
Described as humble, hardworking, and intelligent, J’Mar’s character reflects the strong foundation his parents built.
As Miller noted about J’Mar’s potential,
“The sky is the limit for him, and that’s not just in football but in life.”
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Through the guidance of Kenny Smith and Vashonda Davis, J’Mar has developed into more than just a talented quarterback—he’s become a respected leader whose influence extends beyond the football field, carrying forward the legacy his parents helped create.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- J’Mar Smith was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 24th round of the 2015 MLB Draft as a baseball player, but declined to sign a professional contract with them.
- During his time at Louisiana Tech, Smith attempted to play both football and baseball simultaneously, even offering to pitch for the baseball team when they were struggling with pitching depth.
- He was suspended for two games during his redshirt senior season for violating athletic department policy at Louisiana Tech.
