Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith caused Twitter to crash during his dominant first half against the rival LSU Tigers.
Last Sunday, football fans marveled at the dominating first quarter that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill had against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After watching that, there’s no way we could see a similar performance on short notice. As it turns out, it took less than a week for that to happen.
On Saturday, Alabama Crimson Tide senior wideout DeVonta Smith roasted and toasted the secondary of the LSU Tigers throughout the first half, as he caught seven passes from quarterback Mac Jones for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Just like when Hill embarrassed the Buccaneers’ defensive backfield, Twitter erupted while watching Smith make easy work of his rival.
https://t.co/zqlmYWR8be pic.twitter.com/75Wqs8i4jT
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 6, 2020
Told Smitty I need 300 receiving he said he got me
— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) December 6, 2020
6 Crazy !!!
— SEVEN (@TrevonDiggs) December 6, 2020
Smith close to history
That sound you hear is Smith’s stock rising in the Heisman Trophy race and the 2021 NFL Draft. Seriously, all of the wide receiver needy teams in the NFL are going to be setting up Zoom interviews in the coming months. Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens, we’re looking your way.
That man 6 is a absolute problem! Badge blinking!
— Kenyan Drake™ (@KDx32) December 6, 2020
Stingley Jr, nothing you can do about that. You didn’t bite on post move, stayed on upfield shoulder, probably could’ve located the ball. Smith is just best wr in college football and he made a play
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) December 6, 2020
Goodness another TD what an insanely monster game this dude is having. Go ahead and get him 300 tonight baby
— Michael Felder (@InTheBleachers) December 6, 2020
Entering the huge rivalry game in Death Valley, Smith had already logged 72 receptions for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns. No doubt the Crimson Tide were motivated after they fell to the Tigers last season, where quarterback Joe Burrow had arguably the most historic season of any signal caller in college football. It appears Smith took that as a challenge, and opted to have one of the better seasons for a receiver in the sport’s history.
DeVonta Smith again! This guy is remarkable.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 6, 2020
Only twice since 2003 has a wide receiver been a Heisman finalist. That should change this year.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 6, 2020
In the last 3.5 games for Alabama, DeVonta Smith has posted:
— 34 catches
— 737 yards
— 11 touchdowns
Arguably the best, most valuable player on the nation’s No. 1 ranked team.
In the first half tonight, Alabama has the most points (45), total yards (470) and first downs (20) allowed by LSU in any half under Ed Orgeron.
— Jason Starrett (@starrettjason) December 6, 2020
Granted, this isn’t the same LSU team from a season ago, as their best players either got drafted, declared for the upcoming NFL Draft or opted out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of all three of Smith’s touchdowns, his score to end the half was the most impressive. With less than a minute remaining, Jones lobbed pass in the end zone to Smith, who leaped over LSU star cornerback Derrick Stingley Jr. and secured it with a one-handed grab, a la former Tigers wideout Odell Beckham Jr. That extended Alabama’s already insurmountable lead to 45-14.
When DeVonta Smith caught the touchdown to beat Georgia in the 2017 national championship game, little did we know that he was just getting started. Just remarkable.
— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) December 6, 2020
Don Hutson. Ozzie Newsome. Julio. Amari. This one is the best.
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) December 6, 2020
OMG. DeVonta Smith needs to get some Heisman love.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 6, 2020
Alabama has seen the likes of Amari Cooper, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley dominate as receivers in Tuscaloosa. Smith is inching ever so close to becoming the greatest in the school’s history. And performances like this prove just that.
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