Tag: Devonta Smith

CBS NFL analyst predicts 7 Alabama players in first-round mock draft

Ryan Wilson, a CBS NFL analyst, has released his most recent mock draft for the 2020 NFL Draft. As we get closer to the date of the draft, we get a better understanding of where teams sit in terms of who is on their draft board. The 2020 Senior Bowl …

Ryan Wilson, a CBS NFL analyst, has released his most recent mock draft for the 2020 NFL Draft.

As we get closer to the date of the draft, we get a better understanding of where teams sit in terms of who is on their draft board.

The 2020 Senior Bowl is upon us and the Super Bowl LIV matchup is set.

Wilson’s first-round mock draft is full of talent from different programs from all across the country, but there are seven players that made the list that re products of the University of Alabama.

4. New York Giants – Jedrick Wills, OL 

Jedrick Wills
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants are going all in on their future quarterback, Daniel Jones. However, if he wants to be able to throw, he’ll need to be protected, that’s where Wills comes in.

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WATCH: Top 5 plays from Alabama WR DeVonta Smith in 2019

This season alone, Smith had 68 receptions for 1,256 yards and 14 TDs. Let’s take a look at 5 of his top plays for this year!

DeVonta Smith made the decision to return for his senior year, and there’s no doubt he is going to have a HUGE impact offensively for Alabama next season.

In his career, Smith recorded 118 receptions for 2,109 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.

This season alone, Smith had 68 receptions for 1,256 yards and 14 TDs.

Let’s take a look at 5 of his top plays for this year!

5. 85 yard TD reception vs LSU

This TD was HUGE for Alabama. Although the Crimson Tide fell to LSU in the end, it showcased Smith’s ability to make big plays when the Tide needs him the most.

WATCH: Top 5 plays from Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III

One of Alabama’s many star receivers, Henry Ruggs, announced he will be foregoing his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. Ruggs had an amazing career with the Crimson Tide and capped his collegiate career off with a very impressive 2019 …

One of Alabama’s many star receivers, Henry Ruggs, announced he will be foregoing his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

Ruggs had an amazing career with the Crimson Tide and capped his collegiate career off with a very impressive 2019 season.

Let’s take a look at what made him and this season a special one:

5. 74-yard TD catch vs. Southern Miss.

Despite it being the middle of the first quarter, this was actually Ruggs’ second touchdown catch of the game. In this play, he flashes his speed two separate times. It’s clear he blew past the defensive back to be open for the pass, and then as he nears the goal line, he turns the burners on and gains even more separation.

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2nd & 26; The play that changed Alabama forever, two years ago today

Alabama forever was forever changed on January 8, 2018. A new standard of Alabama Football was created. A dynasty was renewed.

One play. 2nd and 26.

That one play was all it took for Alabama to win the 2018 National Championship game, and crush Georgia’s dream of winning its first championship since 1981.

A beautifully thrown 41 yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Smith to beat Georgia in overtime, 26-23.

Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches the game-winning touchdown during overtime against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

But more than that, that one play is what emerged Tua Tagovailoa as the new starting quarterback at Alabama, and is one of the many plays that will forever make him a legend at Alabama.

What Tua has accomplished at Alabama in his career is unfathomable. In his junior season alone, he threw over 2,800 yards, 33 TDs, and only 3 INT. And that was with enduring 2 injuries (1 season ending) which cost him a lot of playing time. But, those stats are impeccable. So is the fact that Tagovailoa went on to break many school records in his career as he threw for 7,442 yards and 87 yards in three seasons.

Tua Tagovailoa
Aug 31, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) celebrates after a touchdown pass against the Duke Blue Devils in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

DeVonta Smith, who announced earlier this week that he would be returning for his senior year, has become a huge leader on offense for the Crimson Tide. Smith has accounted for over 1200 yards receiving and 14 TDs this season alone. In his career, Smith has recorded 2100 yards receiving as well as 23 TDs. But it’s his consistent improvement that has propelled him into becoming one of Alabama’s best wide receivers this season, and will no doubt be a top draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It will be exciting to see him make big plays and put up impressive numbers this season.

Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) celebrates after catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Simply put, Alabama forever was forever changed on January 8, 2018. A new standard of Alabama Football was created. A dynasty was renewed. Hope was restored.

And although Tagovailoa has declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, he’ll forever be remembered. His legend will live on forever. He will forever be known as 2nd and 26, as well as one of the best quarterbacks to play at Alabama.

Roll Tide.

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Who will be Alabama’s breakout receiver in 2020?

The University of Alabama has produced numerous star receivers, some that have gone on to play big roles in the NFL. Names like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper are standouts. Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are the more recent stars who have shined in 2019 …

The University of Alabama has produced numerous star receivers, some that have gone on to play big roles in the NFL.

Names like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper are standouts.

Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are the more recent stars who have shined in 2019 and will be making their way into the NFL next season.

With Jeudy and Ruggs leaving the program, that leaves only a few recognizable names on the Crimson Tide receiving corps, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.

However, it takes more than two to tango in this case. So who will be the receiver that has a breakout season in 2020 and becomes a household name like the aforementioned players?

There are lots of young, untapped talent on the team like Tyrell Shavers and, the ever versatile, Slate Bolden, among others.

There seems to be one name that was called only four times in 2019 that catches my eye, John Metchie III.

The Canadian native was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class, his commitment to Alabama garnered plenty of attention as he was also recruited by Texas, Georgia and South Carolina.

Metchie didn’t get to see the field too much in 2019, which would make 2020 his R-Freshman season after playing in under four games last year.

While he did get some playing time, it was limited to only four receptions for 23 yards, probably not as productive as he would have hoped, but when you’re playing on the same team as four potential first-round picks over the next two seasons, he had to have been thankful to have seen some action.

He is listed at exactly six feet tall and weighs in at 195 lbs. according to the 2019 Alabama Football roster.. Not great measurable, but nothing to complain about if he can get the job done.

In his Senior year of high school, Metchie posted 738 yards of of 35 catches for seven touchdowns. These stats earned him an impressive ranking of being the No. 3 receiver in the state of New Jersey.

In the 2019 A-Day game, Metchie reeled in five passes for 133 yards, which was enough for him to be named the MVP of the game.

After the game, coach Saban had high praise for the true-Freshman receiver.

“He plays fast, has got some strength,” Saban said, “I think this guy is going to help us next year and I think he’ll be a good player for us.”

Well, he wasn’t utilized all too much in the 2019 season, as Saban had prematurely suggested, but it does show that the Alabama head coach has a strong faith in Metchie’s talents and skillset.

We are still far away from any depth chart or starter talk, but John Metchie III might be a name you want to get familiar with before the 2020 season begins, because it seems as if he may be the new face to take over the infamous Alabama receiving corps.

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Alabama WR DeVonta Smith returning to school for 2020 season

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith is skipping the 2020 NFL draft, and will return to school for another season

One of the top wide receiver prospects in the country is skipping the draft to return for another season at the collegiate level.

Alabama’s DeVonta Smith will not declare for the 2020 NFL draft, and will instead return to the Crimson Tide for the 2020 season. He announced his decision via social media Monday.

Smith’s decision comes after teammates Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy and Xavier McKinney have made their declarations for this year’s draft. Smith joins offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood as top Bama prospects opting to return to school rather than make the early jump to the pros.

An explosive deep threat who made big plays for the Tide all year long, Smith was widely considered the team’s third-best receiver, but he led Alabama with 1,256 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches. A terror after the catch, Smith averaged a whopping 18.5 yards per catch in 2019.

He’ll return as the team’s unquestioned No. 1 receiver in 2020, where he’ll pair with another explosive in Jaylen Waddle to give the Tide another dangerous receiving tandem.

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BREAKING: DeVonta Smith Announces Return to Alabama

Alabama junior wide receiver DeVonta Smith announced he was returning to Alabama for his senior season

On Monday morning, moments after Tua Tagovailoa announced he was declaring for the NFL Draft, Alabama junior wide receiver DeVonta Smith announced he was returning to Alabama for his senior season. Smith made the announcement on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

To be continued… 🌹6️⃣

A post shared by DeVonta Smith (@smityyy03) on

“There’s a lot I have left to accomplish as a player and as a student, and I feel that my time is not up at Alabama,” Smith said. “I have unfinished business to take care of and the only way to do that is to stay one more year. After praying and talking with my family and Coach Saban, I’ve decided that I will return for my senior season.”

In his career, Smith recorded 118 receptions for 2,109 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.

This season alone, Smith had 68 receptions for 1,256 yards and 14 TDs.

Roll Tide Wire will continue updating you with the very latest regarding all things Alabama!

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Should the Cardinals draft a WR on Day 1 or Day 2?

It’s a question that divides many Cardinals fans – when in the draft do the Cardinals address their need at wide receiver?

It’s a conundrum that will divide many Cardinals fans for the next four months: should the Cardinals address their need at wide receiver early in the draft or wait until Day 2 again?

It would seem to be one of the most obvious needs on the team, especially if Larry Fitzgerald does hang up his cleats rather than return (or even if he does return). Kyler Murray needs another weapon to help this Kliff Kingsbury lead offense to take the next step.

It’s truly remarkable the step they’ve already taken, from clearly the worst offense in the league to being, for the most part, in the middle of the pack in many categories. What’s truly amazing is that outside of Kyler Murray, there were no large additions to the Cardinals offense.

This leads to the topic at hand – do the Cardinals address the wide receiver position, which is already being lauded as being very deep, on Day 1 or Day 2?

The obvious choice would be Day 1. In a class that is deep, there are a few that stand out above the rest; namely, receivers like Jerry Jeudy at Alabama and Murray’s ex-college teammate CeeDee Lamb at Oklahoma.

However, stats seem to indicate that receivers drafted in the second round tend to perform better. Take this year’s draft for example:

Round 1:

Marquise Brown: 46 receptions for 584 yards

N’Keal Harry: 12 receptions for 105 yards

Round 2:

Deebo Samuel: 57 receptions for 802 yards

A.J. Brown: 60 receptions for 1081 yards

DK Metcalf: 58 receptions for 900 yards

The 2018 draft is similar. D.J. Moore and Calvin Ridley have been fine players, but gems in the second round included the Cardinals own Christian Kirk, Courtland Sutton, James Washington and D.J. Chark.

Do the Cardinals need a wide receiver than can separate consistently? Yes. Do they need to give Murray a go to receiver? Absolutely.

Now, in no way will the above statistics influence the Cardinals decision in Round 1. But given Murray’s success without much around him, there is a case to be made to add a premiere player elsewhere and wait until Day 2 to add a weapon.

In a draft like the upcoming one, however, it might be awfully tempting to wait until day two to take someone like the hometown stud Brandon Aiyuk from Arizona State, or the clutch Devonta Smith from Alabama or maybe the solid if not spectacular Justin Jefferson from LSU, some of whom may fall to the top of round two.

There’s a few months to go, but it’s a fun conversation to have.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 254

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Ep. 253:

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WATCH: Mac Jones finds DeVonta Smith for another long TD pass

Alabama has retaken the lead against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando (Fla.). Early in the third quarter, Tide quarterback Mac Jones found wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a 42-yard touchdown pass. Touchdown Alabama! Devonta Smith with the …

Alabama has retaken the lead against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando  (Fla.). Early in the third quarter, Tide quarterback Mac Jones found wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a 42-yard touchdown pass.

That is now the third reception for Smith in the game, which he has turned into 56 yards and that lone touchdown.

Jones is currently 10-for-16 for 212 yards and two scores while committing zero turnovers.

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Bleacher Report’s NFL mock draft has 8 Alabama players in the first round

Bleacher Report’s NFL draft expert, Matt Miller, released his most recent mock draft for the 2020 NFL Draft. With the NFL season finally coming to an end, and the early first round order set, football fans can now get a better look at their teams’ …

Bleacher Report’s NFL draft expert, Matt Miller, released his most recent mock draft for the 2020 NFL Draft.

With the NFL season finally coming to an end, and the early first round order set, football fans can now get a better look at their teams’ placement in the draft and who their team will be selecting.

Miller has a record eight players from Alabama being selected in the first round of his mock draft.

Let’s take a look and see who he believes will be going from the Crimson Tide to the NFL.

4. New York Giants – Jerry Jeudy, WR

Miller believes that if the Giants want Daniel Jones to be their quarterback of the future, they better find him some offensive help. What better way to do that than draft possibly the best wide receiver in the draft.

5. Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB

Tua Tagovailoa

Looks like the Dolphins will be winning the ‘Tank for Tua’ sweepstakes in Miller’s scenario. The draft analyst breaks down Coach Brian Flores’ ability to lead a team and their need for a quarterback to build around. Miller mentions that this is all continent upon Tagovailoa declaring for the draft and not returning to Alabama.

11. New York Jets – Jedrick Wills, OT

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

If the Jets want Sam Darnold to work out long-term, they have to protect him. Wills proved in 2019 that he is more than capable of protecting the quarterback. A strong offensive line could be the missing piece to a Jets offense full of talent, but no production.

13. Indianapolis Colts – Henry Ruggs III, WR

Miller recognizes that the Colts are in desperate need for a quarterback after Andrew Luck unexpectedly retired before the 2019 season. However, Miller doesn’t believe that any of the available quarterback at this pick are worth taking this early. So instead, they will look to give Jacoby Brissett some weapons for 2020 as they’ll look aead for a quarterback.

19. Las Vegas Raiders – Dylan Moses, LB

The Raiders will utilize their second of two first-round draft picks on Moses, who cold be a big piece of their 2020 defense. Miller acknowledges the fact that the linebacker didn’t play a single snap in 2019, but argues that it likely won’t negatively affect his draft stock.

23. Buffalo Bills – DeVonta Smith, WR

Much like Miller’s reasoning for the Giants selecting Jeudy, if the Bills want Josh Allen to work out long-term, they need to give him weapons. Miller claims that the Bills won too many games in 2019 to earn a early draft pick for a top-tier receiver, but Smith would be a good fit if he declares for the draft.

26. Seattle Seahawks – Terrell Lewis, EDGE

Alabama football-Terrell Lewis

Miller believes that if it weren’t for Lewis’ injuries while at Alabama, he would be a top-15 pick. He thinks this is a smart pick for the Seahawks as they can pair him with former SEC standout, Jadeveon Clowney.

31. San Francisco 49ers – Xavier McKinney, S

Miller’s explanation for this pick was fairly simple: the 49ers need a safety, and he’s the best safety on the board. Miller also claimed that McKinney’s talent was overlooked at Alabama due to most of the attention given to the offense.

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