5 best college football duos for the 2020 season
By John Buhler
2. Alabama Crimson Tide: WR Devonta Smith, WR Jaylen Waddle
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the favorites to win the SEC this year because they bring so much talent back. Of course, they lost talent to the NFL like they do every year, but they have plenty to offset losing star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to the Miami Dolphins, Henry Ruggs III to the Las Vegas Raiders and Jerry Jeudy to the Denver Broncos.
While quarterback Mac Jones and running back Najee Harris will be key in Alabama’s gridiron success this fall, what happens in the receiving corps will be what ends up taking this offense from good to extraordinary. We’re talking about Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle headlining the next wave of this vaunted Alabama receiving corps.
Despite a junior season of 68 catches for 1,256 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, Smith opted to return to Tuscaloosa for one final college year. Waddle doesn’t have the numbers of Smith but has a combined 78 catches for 1,408 yards and 13 touchdown grabs in his first two years in the Alabama program. One would think his role expands considerably in year two of this offense.
The other important factor here with the Crimson Tide is a ton of focus will be on offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. 2020 will be the second year of his second stint in Alabama after a two-year run running the Atlanta Falcons offense. He should command a lucrative Power 5 head-coaching gig in the next hiring cycle. He’ll have Jones throw a lot of passes to Smith and Waddle.