Alabama’s DeVonta Smith wins 2020 Heisman Trophy

Devonta Smith is the third Alabama football player to win the Heisman Trophy and the first receiver to win since Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991.

For the first time since Desmond Howard in 1991, a wide receiver won the Heisman Trophy with Alabama football star DeVonta Smith taking home the Heisman in 2020.

Smith is only the fourth wide receiver to win the Heisman, joining Howard, Tim Brown and Johnny Rodgers to win the most prestigious individual award in college football.

He beat his quarterback, Mac Jones, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask to take home the Heisman.

Smith joins Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram as the only Alabama football players to win the Heisman.

Smith received 1,856 votes to win and it wasn’t really close. Lawrence was the runner-up with 1,187, Jones was third with 1,130, Trask had 737 to finish in fourth. Alabama running back Najee Harris finished in fifth, giving the Crimson Tide three in the top five, which is remarkable.

DeVonta Smith is the 3rd Alabama player and 4th receiver to win the Heisman

After the injury to Jaylen Waddle, Smith absolutely dominated the rest of the season and quickly moved to the top of the Heisman hierarchy, overtaking his teammate in the process. Combined with Alabama beating Florida’s Trask in the SEC Championship Game and Lawrence missing two games due to COVID and a third game getting canceled due to COVID issues, the door was open for Smith to run through it and make history.

Smith won the receiver Triple Crown, leading the nation in receptions (105), yards (1,641) and touchdowns (20). Smith made his impact as a true freshman when he caught the game-winning touchdown from fellow freshman, Tua Tagovailoa, in double overtime of the National Championship Game vs. Georgia.

Since then, he played behind first-round picks Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III and was the No. 4 receiver with Waddle ahead of him as well. It’s an embarrassment of riches for Alabama because now he’s the Heisman Trophy winner and will join Jeudy and Ruggs as first-round picks. Waddle will too.

Smith is projected to go in the top 4-10 picks on April’s NFL Draft and could be reunited with former Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts where the Eagles own the No. 6 pick and have a need for a pass-catching superstar.

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