Arkansas is tired of Devonta Smith making them look silly.
Smith continued his rapid rise up the Heisman charts with an 84-yard punt return touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks of Saturday. Smith’s return score marked the beginning of a 35-point swing (and potentially more) in Alabama’s direction, and the Razorbacks are caught on the wrong end of a lopsided scoreline.
The possession after Smith’s impressive return, he wasn’t so lucky, as he was tackled after gaining just a few yards of field position. After the hit, however, Arkansas special teams player Nathan Bax may have gotten away with a dirty play. At least, that’s definitely the Alabama perspective on things.
Arkansas Playing Dirty pic.twitter.com/uaoOtNUOSf
— InsideBamaRecruiting Alabama Football (@RTRnews) December 12, 2020
Arkansas's Nathan Bax should be ejected and suspended.
— Montana Fouts for President (@JGFiegel) December 12, 2020
Alabama fans are convinced Bax got away with one
The fact that Bax’s supposed ankle turn occurred against such a high-profile Crimson Tide player just one game ahead of the SEC Championship only heightens matters. Alabama fans are on edge, and an injury to Smith at this juncture of the season would roll heads for the Tide.
Arkansas’ Nathan Bax should be ejected. This is flat out pathetic. Intentionally trying to injure Devonta Smith.... https://t.co/I1r53L5AmJ
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) December 12, 2020
If @CoachSamPittman has integrity, he'll discipline Nathan Bax. Just an absolutely shitty play from Bax.
— Montana Fouts for President (@JGFiegel) December 12, 2020
Arkansas’ Nathan Bax just tried to intentionally injure Devonta Smith by twisting his leg after the play. Hope the @SEC takes another look at that and suspends him. No room in the game for that garbage. @FQArkansas @FQAlabama
— Fifth Quarter Ole Miss (@FQOleMiss) December 12, 2020
Nathan Bax @RazorbackFB You mess with @DeVontaSmith_6 you mess with the @AlabamaFTBL family. 👁 pic.twitter.com/vaK4v1sL5r
— EBinson (@BrittVinson4) December 12, 2020
DeVonta has a legitimate beef here https://t.co/8K9iKLWuOl
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) December 12, 2020
Good for ESPN going back and highlighting that dirty play by the @RazorbackFB football player number 46
— Drew Champlin (@DrewChamplin) December 12, 2020
There’s no way of telling if Bax intentionally tried to injure Smith, but Alabama’s beef is noted until Arkansas gives comment.
Nick Saban and Co. would rather fast forward to the SEC Championship at this juncture, rather than face potential injury to any of their star players. Expect Saban to pull anyone at risk come the second half, as a matchup with the Florida Gators is looming in Atlanta.
The recent surge from Smith couldn’t have come at a better time for Alabama, as it’s made the loss of Jaylen Waddle surprisingly manageable for the Tide. Losing a player of Waddle’s status is never easy, yet Smith has emerged not only as the obvious favorite target of Mac Jones, but the best receiver in the country by a mile.
Thankfully, he’s avoided disaster on this occasion.
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