Alabama’s Smith is Heisman winner
On an Alabama team stacked with stars, DeVonta Smith emerged as the best player in college football while playing a position that rarely gets that kind of recognition.
Smith became the f irst wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in 29 seasons Tuesday night, breaking the monopoly quarterbacks have had on the award by beating out three of them.
“Just to be one of the very few that played receiver to win the Heisman, it means a lot to me,” Smith said.
Smith f inished with 447 f irst- place votes and 1,856 points to easily outdistance Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence ( 222, 1,187), Alabama teammate Mac Jones ( 138, 1,130) and Florida’s Kyle Trask ( 61, 737).
Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris f inished f ifth in the voting, making No. 1 Alabama the second team in the 85- year history of the Heisman to have three of the top f ive vote- getters. Army did it in 1946 with Glenn Davis ( f irst), Doc Blanchard ( fourth) and Arnold Tucker ( fifth).
“I want to thank my teammates,” Smith said during his acceptance speech. “With team success comes individual success, so without you all, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today, winning this award.”
Smith is just the fourth receiver to win the Heisman, joining Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991, Notre Dame’s Tim Brown in 1987 and Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers in 1972.
College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said the national championship game between Alabama and Ohio State is still a go for Monday night amid a report that the Buckeyes are dealing with COVID- 19 issues. AL. com reported that Ohio State has been in contact with CFP officials about possible player availability problems that could force the game to be delayed. Those discussions were confirmed to the Associated Press by a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no one had been authorized to speak publicly about the details.
UCLA senior wide receiver Jaylen Erwin became the f irst Bruin to enter the transfer portal in what’s expected to be a busy offseason of player movement.
— Ben Bolch
Georgia and former USC quarterback JT Daniels announced on Twitter that he’s coming back to the Bulldogs after starting the f inal four games of the 2020 season. ... Tennessee cornerback Bryce Thompson declared early for the NFL draft, saying he feels ready for the challenge as he tries to fulfill his lifelong dream.