Shemar James

21-Year-Old LinebackerLB

Dallas Cowboys

2025 Defense Stats

TCKL

SACKS

1.5

INT

Rest-of-Season Projections

TCKL

SACKS

INT

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2025 Fantasy Outlook

The Florida product was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 Draft, but the Cowboys traded up to get him, suggesting they have higher expectations for him. James should be able to contribute on special teams while he learns the ropes in the NFL, and he could spot in as a pass rusher given his speed and athleticism. He may not have the instincts to turn into a defensive starter, though, even in the linebacker-friendly scheme of new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Read Past Outlooks

Bye Week 10

Height 6'1"

Weight 222

DOB 6/24/2004

College Florida

Drafted 5th Rd 2025 #152 Overall

Impressive rookie campaign

LBDallas Cowboys

January 27, 2026

James recorded 91 tackles (40 solo) with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 14 games in 2025.

ANALYSIS
A fifth-round pick out of Florida in the 2025 Draft, James was inactive for the first three games of the season as former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus leaned heavily on veteran linebackers like Kenneth Murray, but once James got into the lineup he made an impact, producing double-digit tackles on three separate occasions. However, he struggled in coverage, and James lost his starting spot again briefly once DeMarvion Overshown returned from knee surgery in Week 11. James drew back in when Overshown suffered a Week 16 concussion, and the rookie wrapped up the season with 13 tackles in Week 18 against the Giants. Depending on the Cowboys' offseason moves, James could be in line to start in Week 1 next season under new DC Christian Parker, who brings a LB-friendly system with him from Philadelphia.

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NFL Stats

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2025 NFL Game Log

2025

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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart

Snap Counts

Snap %

K.Kenneth Murray

S.Shemar James

J.Jack Sanborn

L.Logan Wilson

D.DeMarvion Overshown

M.Marist Liufau

D.Damone Clark

#% of Team Snaps

86679%

53849%

22921%

22320%

21820%

19818%

787%

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2025 Shemar James Split Stats

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Measurables Review View College Player Page

How do Shemar James' measurables compare to other linebackers?

This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.

Height

6' 1"

Weight

222 lbs

40-Yard Dash

4.69 sec

Shuttle Time

4.27 sec

Cone Drill

7.09 sec

Vertical Jump

32.0 in