DeVonta Smith

DeVonta Smith (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, recording 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 also won two national championships at Alabama prior to being selected by the Eagles tenth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Early life
Smith attended Amite High Magnet School in his hometown of Amite City, Louisiana. He played basketball and football. Smith committed to the University of Alabama to play college football.

2017 season
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 lone reception was the game-winning 41-yard touchdown in an overtime 26–23 victory.

2018 season
In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, Smith had six receptions for 104 yards and a 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.

2019 season
On September 14, Smith had eight receptions for 136 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a 47–23 victory over South Carolina. Two weeks later, Smith set career highs with 274 yards and five touchdowns in a 59–31 victory over Ole Miss. On November 9, against LSU, he had seven receptions for 213 receiving yards and two touchdowns during 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, Smith's 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 October 10, against Ole Miss, Smith had 13 receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown to go along with a rushing touchdown in the 63–48 victory. In the next game against Georgia, he had 11 receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the 41–24 victory. On October 31, Smith had 11 receptions for 203 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State in the 41–0 victory. Smith outgained the entire Bulldogs team 203–200 in the victory. Three weeks later, 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, Smith had eight receptions for 231 yards and three touchdowns in a 55–17 victory over LSU. In the SEC Championship against Florida, he had 15 receptions for 184 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 yards and three touchdowns during 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 and clinched their sixth title in 12 years, while Smith was named Offensive MVP of the championship game. Smith led the nation with 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns.

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

While playing for Alabama, Smith set more than seven school receiving records. He accepted an invitation for the 2021 Senior Bowl but did not play. Smith's nickname at Alabama was the "Slim Reaper", given to him by his teammates due to his small frame and athletic ability. Smith was named as a Consensus All-American. Smith also won the Biletnikoff Award, the Maxwell Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

2021 season
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. Smith 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. On June 3, 2021, Smith signed a four-year rookie contract worth $20.1 million.

During the season-opening 32–6 road victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Smith recorded six receptions for 71 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown on his first NFL catch. Three weeks later against the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith had seven receptions for 122 yards in the 42–30 loss. During a Week 10 30–13 road victory over the Denver Broncos, Smith caught four passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith had a solid rookie season for the Eagles, as he had 64 receptions for 916 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games and 16 starts. His 916 yards set the Eagles rookie record for most receiving yards in a single season. Like the rest of the Eagles offense, Smith struggled during the 31–15 loss in the Wild Card Round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he ended the game with four catches (on 11 targets) for 60 yards.

2022 season
During a Week 3 24–8 road victory over the Washington Commanders, Smith had eight receptions for a career-high 169 yards and a touchdown. During a Week 16 40–34 road loss to the Dallas Cowboys, he recorded eight receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith had five games going over the 100-yard mark in the 2022 season. He finished his second professional season with 95 receptions for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games and starts. During the Divisional Round against the New York Giants, Smith had six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown in the 38–7 victory. In the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith recorded a one-handed 29-yard reception on fourth down during the Eagles' opening drive. The catch was likely to have been ruled incomplete upon further review, but the Eagles were able to get a quick snap off before it could be challenged. The catch set up the Eagles with first-and-goal, which they were able to score a touchdown on. The Eagles won 31–7. During Super Bowl LVII against the Chiefs, Smith had seven receptions for 100 yards in the 38–35 loss. He was ranked 100th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.

2023 season
During a Week 2 34–28 victory over the Vikings, Smith had four receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown. He had one other game going over the 100-yard mark on the regular season, recording seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown during a Week 12 37–34 overtime victory over the Bills.

Smith finished the 2023 season with 81 receptions for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games and starts. During the Wild Card Round against the Buccaneers, he had eight receptions for 148 yards in the 32–9 road loss.

2024 season
On April 15, 2024, Smith signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension with the Eagles.