Factoid

January 12, 2021

Devonta Smith

Heisman winner looks ready to thrive in the NFL

Typically you don’t want to select wide receivers in the first round. There are so many really good ones who are selected in the later rounds. Most recently, Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Chase Claypool and Gabriel Davis. But Devonta Smith sure was impressive in the national championship game last night.

It’s rare to see a wide receiver catch 15 passes for 212 yards and 3 TDs in a game. Smith did it in a half – and against a defense with a lot of players who’ll wind up in the NFL. Ohio State simply couldn’t cover him.

Smith isn’t as big as you’d like. He’s 6-foot-1 but weighs only 175. So for size, you’re looking at a slightly taller version or DeSean Jackson or Hollywood Brown. But Smith is remarkably quick with the ball in his hands. He showed that in the Notre Dame game, and again on a couple of plays last night. They get the ball to him and there’s a defender in place to get him on the ground, and Smith gets around the edge anyway.

I am aware that the two Alabama wide receives selected with top-15 picks a year ago were underwhelming as rookies – both Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy. But Smith is a lot better than either of those guys. He scored 24 touchdowns this year; that’s 6 more than the combined total of those other two a year ago.

Smith’s 24 touchdowns (including 1 run), in fact, is 4 more than any of the wide receivers chosen in the first round over the last 10 years. He also finished with 123 more receiving yards than what any of those other guys did (in their final college seasons).

I understand the size concerns, but Smith looks like he’s going to give a big boost to whatever NFL team is able to secure his services.

FIRST-ROUND WIDE RECEIVERS (last 10 years)
Year	Pk	Player	School	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD
2021	?	Devonta Smith	Alabama	117	1,856	15.9	24
2016	15	Corey Coleman, Clev.	Baylor	74	1,363	18.4	20
2017	5	Corey Davis, Tenn.	Western Michigan	97	1,500	15.5	19
2017	9	John Ross, Cin.	Washington	81	1,150	14.2	19
2014	20	Brandin Cooks, N.O.	Oregon State	128	1,730	13.5	18
2020	22	Justin Jefferson, Minn.	Louisiana State	111	1,540	13.9	18
2012	5	Justin Blackmon, Jac.	Oklahoma State	121	1,522	12.6	18
2013	27	DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.	Clemson	82	1,405	17.1	18
2015	4	Amari Cooper, Oak.	Alabama	124	1,727	13.9	16
2020	17	CeeDee Lamb, Dall.	Oklahoma	62	1,327	21.4	15
2014	28	Kelvin Benjamin, Car.	Florida State	54	1,011	18.7	15
2012	20	Kendall Wright, Tenn.	Baylor	108	1,663	15.4	14
2016	22	Josh Doctson, Wash.	Texas Christian	79	1,327	16.8	14
2016	21	Will Fuller, Hou.	Notre Dame	62	1,258	20.3	14
2014	4	Sammy Watkins, Buff.	Clemson	101	1,464	14.5	12
2014	7	Mike Evans, T.B.	Texas A&M	69	1,394	20.2	12
2015	20	Nelson Agholor, Phil.	Southern Cal	104	1,313	12.6	12
2013	8	Tavon Austin, St.L.	West Virginia	114	1,289	11.3	12
2017	7	Mike Williams, LAC	Clemson	98	1,361	13.9	11
2016	23	Laquon Treadwell, Minn.	Mississippi	82	1,153	14.1	11
2015	7	Kevin White, Chi.	West Virginia	109	1,447	13.3	10
2019	25	Marquise Brown, Balt.	Oklahoma	75	1,318	17.6	10
2020	15	Jerry Jeudy, Den.	Alabama	77	1,163	15.1	10
2019	32	N'Keal Harry, N.E.	Arizona State	73	1,088	14.9	10
2015	29	Phillip Dorsett, Ind.	Miami	36	871	24.2	10
2020	25	Brandon Aiyuk, S.F.	Arizona State	65	1,192	18.3	9
2014	12	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	Louisiana State	59	1,152	19.5	9
2012	13	Michael Floyd, Ariz.	Notre Dame	100	1,147	11.5	9
2015	26	Breshad Perriman, Balt.	Central Florida	50	1,044	20.9	9
2018	24	DJ Moore, Car.	Maryland	80	1,033	12.9	9
2011	4	A.J. Green, Cin.	Georgia	57	848	14.9	9
2012	30	A.J. Jenkins, S.F.	Illinois	90	1,276	14.2	8
2020	12	Henry Ruggs, L.V.	Alabama	40	746	18.7	8
2011	6	Julio Jones, Atl.	Alabama	78	1,133	14.5	7
2020	21	Jalen Reagor, Phil.	Texas Christian	43	611	14.2	6
2018	26	Calvin Ridley, Atl.	Alabama	63	967	15.3	5
2015	14	DeVante Parker, Mia.	Louisville	43	855	19.9	5
2011	26	Jon Baldwin, K.C.	Pittsburgh	53	822	15.5	5
2013	29	Cordarrelle Patterson, Minn.	Tennessee	46	778	16.9	5

—Ian Allan

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