DeVonta Smith

DeVonta Smith (/dəˈvɒntɑː/ de-VON-tuh; born November 14, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he recorded over 1,800 yards with 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2020.

For the American mixed martial artist, see Devonte Smith.

DeVonta Smith
Smith with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021
No. 6 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1998-11-14) November 14, 1998
Amite City, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school:Amite (Amite City, Louisiana)
College:Alabama (2017–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2022
Receptions:159
Receiving yards:2,112
Receiving touchdowns:12
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Smith was awarded the Heisman Trophy for his accomplishments 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. He also won two national championships while at Alabama prior to being selected by the Eagles tenth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

High school career

Smith attended Amite High Magnet School in his hometown of Amite City, Louisiana. He played basketball and football.[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 playing for Alabama in 2019.

Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns on 68 receptions.[8] 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 decided to return to Alabama 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12] His nickname at Alabama was the "Slim Reaper", given to him by his teammates due to his small frame and athletic ability.[13]

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

Professional career
Smith with the Eagles during the 2021 season
Smith reacts after scoring a touchdown in 2022
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span
6 ft 0+1⁄4 in
(1.84 m)		 170 lb
(77 kg)		 31+1⁄8 in
(0.79 m)		 9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)
All values from Pro Day[14][15]

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.[16] He was the third wide receiver taken in the draft after Ja'Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle. Despite his impressive college statistics Smith fell in the draft due to concerns over his raw measurables and that his frame was considered too small to handle playing in the NFL.[17]

He signed a four-year rookie contract, worth $20.1 million, on June 3, 2021.[18]

2021
See also: 2021 Philadelphia Eagles season

In week 1, against the Atlanta Falcons, Smith scored his first career touchdown on his very first catch in the NFL.[19] Smith had a solid rookie season for the Eagles, as he recorded 64 receptions for 916 yards and 5 touchdowns.[20] His 916 yards set the Eagles rookie record for most receiving yards in a single season.[21] Like the rest of the Eagles offense, Smith struggled during the team's 31–15 loss in the Wild Card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he ended the game with 4 catches (on 11 targets) for 60 yards.[22]

2022
See also: 2022 Philadelphia Eagles season

In Week 3, against the Washington Commanders, Smith had eight catches for a career-high 169 yards and a touchdown in the 24–8 win.[23]

Smith finished his second season catching 95 passes for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns. In Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith had seven catches for 100 yards in the 38-35 loss.

NFL career statistics
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2021PHI 17166491614.346511
2022PHI 1717951,19612.645711
Career34331592,11213.3461222

Playoffs
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2021PHI 1146015.031000
2022PHI 331519713.145100
Career441925713.545100

See also

References
  1. "Devonta Smith's High School Timeline". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  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.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  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 (September 18, 2019). "Alabama's DeVonta Smith finally getting his due". TimesDaily. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  7. Byington, Alex. "Tide WR DeVonta Smith emerging from the shadows". Dothan Eagle.
  8. "DeVonta Smith 2019 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  9. "Tide's DeVonta Smith the 1st WR to win AP Player of the Year". AP NEWS. December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. "Wide receivers and the Heisman Trophy: DeVonta Smith joins exclusive fraternity with win". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. Rob Goldberg (January 11, 2021). "DeVonta Smith, Mac Jones, Alabama Rout Ohio State to Win 2021 CFP Championship". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  12. Heim, Mark (January 18, 2021). "Alabama's DeVonta Smith accepts Senior Bowl invitation". MSN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  13. Martin, Tyler (January 5, 2021). "How an 'Under-Sized' DeVonta Smith Became Larger Than Life and the Heisman Front-Runner". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  14. "DeVonta Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  15. "DeVonta Smith, Alabama, WR, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  16. McPherson, Chris (April 29, 2021). "Eagles draft WR DeVonta Smith". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  17. Frank, Reuben. "Is DeVonta Smith too small to last in the NFL?". NBC Sports. NBC Universal. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  18. Erby, Glenn (June 3, 2021). "Eagles agree to four-year, $20.1M deal with rookie WR DeVonta Smith". The Eagles Wire. Retrieved July 26, 2021 – via USA Today.
  19. "Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons - September 12th, 2021". Pro Football Reference. September 12, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  20. "DeVonta Smith 2021 Game Logs". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  21. "DeVonta Smith sets franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  22. "DeVonta Smith Playoffs Game Logs". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  23. "Devonta Smith breaks out for 169 receiving yards, Eagles stay unbeaten with win over Commanders". FOX News. Associated Press. September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
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