USA TODAY International Edition
Alabama receiver Smith wins Heisman Trophy
DeVonta Smith caught almost everything thrown his way for Alabama this season. His latest reception came in the form of the Heisman Trophy.
The Crimson Tide receiver was the winner of the award Tuesday ahead of teammate Mac Jones, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask.
Smith’s winning campaign is one of the more unexpected developments for the award.
His biggest moment in the national spotlight before the season came as a freshman when he was on the receiving end of a Tua Tagovailoa pass in overtime that beat Georgia in the national title game in the 2017 season.
The senior entered this season with teammates Jones and running back Najee Harris getting more attention and he wasn’t the clear- cut No. 1 receiver on his team with Jaylen Waddle alongside him.
When Waddle was injured Oct. 24 against Tennessee, Smith became the focal point of the passing game. He caught 27 passes for 518 yards and eight touchdowns in his next three games.
Even with the surge of production, Smith didn’t register one vote in the USA TODAY Network Heisman panel of 22 voters in the middle of November and only had two points in the first poll in December. An impressive finish pushed him into front- runner status. He had 231 yards and three TDs receiving against LSU in a prime- time showing to a national audience. The senior made his final impression with voters with 184 yards and two TDs in the Southeastern Conference title game against Florida.
Smith, who had 1,511 receiving yards and 17 TD catches in the regular season, is the seventh player who didn’t primarily play quarterback or running back to win the award. The last receiver was Michigan’s Desmond Howard ( 1991). Smith is the third Tide winner: Mark Ingram ( 2009) and Derrick Henry ( 2015).