DeVonta Smith

DeVonta Versean Smith (/dəˈvɒnteɪ/ də-VON-tay; born November 14, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he recorded over 1,800 yards with 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2020. Smith was awarded the Heisman Trophy for his accomplishments as a senior alongside several other awards and honors. He was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991 and only the fourth overall. Smith won two national championships at Alabama prior to being selected by the Eagles tenth overall in the 2021 NFL draft. In his fourth season with the Eagles, Smith won Super Bowl LIX, becoming the fifth football player to win the Super Bowl, a college national title, and the Heisman Trophy.

Smith attended Amite High Magnet School in his hometown of Amite City, Louisiana. He played basketball and football, as well as ran track and field. A five star prospect, he committed to the University of Alabama to play college football.

As a true freshman at Alabama in 2017, Smith had eight receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. He scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 27-yard reception against Vanderbilt on September 23. In the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia, Smith's only catch of the game was the game-winning 41-yard touchdown reception in an overtime 26–23 victory.

In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, Smith had six receptions for 104 yards and one touchdown in the 45–34 victory over Oklahoma. As a sophomore in 2018, Smith had 42 receptions for 693 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games.

On September 14, Smith had eight receptions for 136 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a 47–23 victory over South Carolina. On September 28, Smith set career highs with 274 yards and five touchdowns in a 59–31 victory against Ole Miss. On November 9, against LSU, he had seven receptions for 213 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 46–41 loss. Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns on 68 receptions.

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 decided to return to Alabama for his senior year.

On October 10, against Ole Miss, Smith had 13 receptions for 164 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown to go along with a rushing touchdown in the 63–48 victory. In the following game, against Georgia, he had 11 receptions for 167 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 41–24 victory. On October 31, Smith had 11 receptions for 203 receiving yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State in the 41–0 victory. Smith outgained the entire Bulldogs team 203–200 in the victory. On November 21, Smith broke the all-time SEC career record for most receiving touchdowns, with two to go along with nine receptions for 144 yards in a 63–3 victory over Kentucky. On November 28, in the Iron Bowl against Auburn, he had seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in the 42–13 victory. The following week, he had eight receptions for 231 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a 55–17 victory over LSU. In the SEC Championship against Florida, he had 15 receptions for 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 52–46 victory. In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game, he had seven receptions for 130 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the 31–14 victory. 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. Smith led the nation with 117 receptions, 1,856 receiving yards, and 23 receiving touchdowns.

Smith became the first wide receiver to win the AP Player of the Year award since its inception in 1998. 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.