DeVonta Smith winning AP Player of the Year bodes well for the Heisman

History is on DeVonta Smith’s side after winning the AP Player of the Year as the Alabama receiver looks to add the Heisman Trophy to his list of awards.

With Alabama football star DeVonta Smith being named the AP Player of the Year, this makes it all the more likely that he will end up winning the Heisman Trophy.

Smith is one of four finalists for the award, along with teammate Mac Jones. Though some may speculate the outstanding Crimson Tide duo will end up splitting the vote, that does not seem to be the case. Either one of them will end up taking the Heisman back to Tuscaloosa, as Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask seem to be at best long shots for this distinction.

DeVonta Smith and Mac Jones finished 1-2 for AP Player of the Year

If history repeats itself, Smith will end up winning the Heisman Trophy. Of the last 22 AP Players of the Year, 17 of them have gone on to win the Heisman. However, there is an interesting caveat involving AP Players of the Year and Alabama Heisman winners. When Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry won their Heismans, neither was named AP Player of the Year.

Ingram won the 2009 Heisman Trophy but was beaten out by Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh for AP Player of the Year. Though Henry gave Alabama its second-ever Heisman winner, he did not win the 2015 AP Player of the Year, as that distinction went to Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey. Which of these trends will hold up in 2020?

Because Smith and Jones finished 1-2 for the AP Player of the Year, it is more likely Jones takes the Heisman away from Smith than the talented Alabama wideout earning both honors. To date, no Crimson Tide quarterback has ever won the Heisman. With running back Najee Harris finishing in fifth, either Smith or Jones could be the first non-running back to win it for the Crimson Tide.

Overall, you have to like Smith’s chances to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy as a wide receiver.

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