DeVonta Smith

DeVonta Smith (/dəˈvɒnteɪ/ de-VON-tay; born November 14, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). As a senior at Alabama in 2020, he recorded over 1,800 yards with 23 touchdowns, for which he won the Heisman Trophy alongside several other awards and honors. Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991 and only the fourth overall. He also won two College Football National Championships while at Alabama, prior to being selected by the Eagles 10th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

For the American mixed martial artist, see Devonte Smith.

DeVonta Smith
Smith with Alabama in 2019
No. 6 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1998-11-14) November 14, 1998
Amite City, Louisiana
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:Amite (Amite City)
College:Alabama (2017–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 13, 2021
Receptions:50
Receiving yards:701
Receiving average:14.0
Receiving touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

High school career

Smith was born on November 14, 1998, in Amite City, Louisiana and later attended Amite High Magnet School.[1] He committed to the University of Alabama to play college football.[2]

College career

2017 season

As a true freshman at Alabama in 2017, Smith had eight receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns. In the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia, Smith's only catch of the game was the game-winning touchdown reception in an overtime 26–23 victory.[3][4][5]

2018 season

As a sophomore in 2018, he had 42 receptions for 693 yards and six touchdowns.[6][7]

2019 season

Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns on 68 receptions. On September 28, Smith set career highs with 274 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 59–31 victory against Ole Miss.

After the season, his teammates Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy forfeited their remaining NCAA eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL Draft, where they ended up as first-round picks, but Smith chose to return for his senior year.

2020 season

On November 21, 2020, Smith broke the all-time SEC career record for most receiving touchdowns, with two against Kentucky.

Smith became the first wide receiver to win the AP Player of the Year award since its inception in 1998.[8] Smith was selected over finalists Kyle Trask, Trevor Lawrence and teammate Mac Jones to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award since Desmond Howard in 1991 and only the fourth overall.[9]

Several days later in the CFP National Championship Game against Ohio State, Smith set records for title game catches (12) and touchdown receptions (three), and also totaled 215 yards, despite leaving early in the third quarter with a hand injury. Alabama won, 52–24, their sixth title in 12 years, while Smith was named Offensive MVP of the championship game.[10]

While playing for Alabama, Smith set more than seven school receiving records. Smith accepted an invitation for the 2021 Senior Bowl but did not play.[11] His nickname at Alabama was the "Slim Reaper", given to him by his teammates due to his small frame and athletic ability.[12]

Statistics
Season Receiving
RecYdsAvgLngTD
2017 816020.0413
2018 4269316.5576
2019 681,25618.58514
2020 1171,85615.96623
Career 2353,96516.98546

Professional career

Smith was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the tenth overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, who had traded up two spots with the Dallas Cowboys to select him.[13] He signed a four-year rookie contract, worth $20.1 million, on June 3, 2021. In week 1, against the Atlanta Falcons, Smith scored his first career touchdown on his very first catch in the NFL.[14]

See also

References
  1. "The Draft Network | NFL Draft Rankings, Predictions, & Coverage". The Draft Network. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  2. "Amite (La.) wide receiver DeVonta Smith is headed to Alabama". February 1, 2017.
  3. Sabin, Rainer (November 27, 2018). "Why Alabama WR DeVonta Smith is not eager to talk about '2nd-and-26'". al.
  4. Byington, Alex. "Humble Alabama WR DeVonta Smith not reveling in 'The Catch' ahead of rematch with Georgia". The Montgomery Advertiser.
  5. "DeVonta Smith's hometown hails Bama's other CFP hero". SI.com.
  6. Byington, Alex. "Alabama's DeVonta Smith finally getting his due". TimesDaily.
  7. Byington, Alex. "Tide WR DeVonta Smith emerging from the shadows". Dothan Eagle.
  8. "Tide's DeVonta Smith the 1st WR to win AP Player of the Year". AP NEWS. December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. "Wide receivers and the Heisman Trophy: DeVonta Smith joins exclusive fraternity with win". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  10. Rob Goldberg (January 11, 2021). "DeVonta Smith, Mac Jones, Alabama Rout Ohio State to Win 2021 CFP Championship". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  11. Heim, Mark (January 18, 2021). "Alabama's DeVonta Smith accepts Senior Bowl invitation". MSN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  12. Martin, Tyler. "How an 'Under-Sized' DeVonta Smith Became Larger Than Life and the Heisman Front-Runner". Sports Illustrated Alabama Crimson Tide News, Analysis and More. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  13. McPherson, Chris (April 29, 2021). "Eagles draft WR DeVonta Smith". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  14. Erby, Glenn. "Eagles agree to four-year, $20.1M deal with rookie WR DeVonta Smith". The Eagles Wire. Retrieved July 26, 2021 – via USA Today.
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