Alabama Crimson Tide Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith Wins Heisman Trophy

It seemed only fitting that such an unusual year in college football would have a Heisman Trophy winner that very few people expected until the final couple of weeks.

Tuesday night, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith won college football's most prestigious award, edging out teammate Mac Jones and two other finalists in the voting.

Smith is Alabama's third Heisman winner, joining running backs Mark Ingram II (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015).

"To all the young kids out there that's not the biggest, not the strongest, just keep pushing because I'm not the biggest. I've been doubted a lot just because of my size, and really it just comes down to you put your mind to it, you can do it," Smith said during his acceptance speech. "No job is too big. If you put your mind to it, you can do it, and just keep believing in God, and you'll get where you want to be."

For the first time in the history of the Heisman the awards ceremony was dune virtually. With Alabama in the middle of preparing to face Ohio State in the National Championship game on Monday, the Crimson Tide players participated from Tuscaloosa.

Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask were the other two finalists.

Smith finished with 447 first-place votes, roughly twice as many as Lawrence with 222. He also won every region in the nation, with the Mid-Atlantic, where Clemson is located, being the closest (284 points to 253).

"I kind of feel relieved just that it's over with now. I can just focus on this last game," he said during the subsequent press conference. "But it feels great just to hear my name called to win this award."

2020 Heisman Trophy Voting

DeVonta Smith, Alabama, 447 first-place votes, 1,856 total points
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, 222, 1,87
Mac Jones, Alabama, 138, 1,130
Kyle Trask, Florida, 61, 737
Najee Harris, Alabama, 16, 216

Including fifth-place finisher Najee Harris, Alabama was just the second team ever to have three players place in the top five of the same Heisman vote, joining 1946 Army with halfback Glenn Davis, fullback Doc Blanchard and quarterback Arnold Tucker.

“Probably one of the most selfless guys that I've ever had the opportunity to coach in terms of whatever he can do to help the team he wants to do,” Nick Saban said of Smith prior to the Rose Bowl.

Smith was the first wideout to win the award since Michigan wide receiver/returner Desmond Howard in 1991. Only two other receivers have taken home the trophy that dates back to 1935, Notre Dame's Tim Brown in 1987 and Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers in 1972.

Moreover, Smith was just the ninth wide receiver named a finalist, although third from Alabama (Amari Cooper, 2014 and David Palmer, 1993).

Breaking down DeVonta Smith's win by the numbers, with complete results of the 2020 Heisman Trophy Top 10, tabulated by @DeloitteUS pic.twitter.com/uowfGshkfB
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) January 6, 2021

In 11 games, including the SEC Championship Game, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Smith led the country with 98 receptions and 1,511 receiving yards — the most by any Heisman winner in either category, topping the previous record holder, Howard (950 receiving yards on 61 receptions in 1991).

Smith’s 17 touchdown catches, the second-most in a Heisman season behind Howard, and 137.4 receiving yards per game were both second-best nationally and his 8.9 receptions per game were tied for second best.

This was the first time Alabama had multiple Heisman finalists.

Jones and Smith gave Alabama 10 Heisman finalists since 1982, and eight since 2009. They joined Ingram, Henry, Amari Cooper (2014), AJ McCarron (2013), Trent Richardson (2011) and Tua Tagovailoa (2018).

“These guys prepare better than anybody right now on offense for us in their preparation for the game, and it shows in the way they play the game," outgoing Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "And their preparation is at the highest level. They remind me of NFL players when it comes to that.”

Smith's Heisman resume included the following:

Named Associated Press Player of the Year, the first wide receiver to ever win the award.
2020 Player of the Year by The Sporting News and CBSSports.com.
First-Team All-American and named SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
Entered College Football Playoff as the national leader in receptions, receiving yards and yards after the catch while ranking second in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards per game. After the Rose Bowl he led in TD catches, too.
Holds program record with 3,750 career receiving yards, which ranks second in SEC history. He's within nine yards of tying Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews (2010-13, 3,759 yards).
Holds SEC career record with 40 touchdown catches. The previous mark of 31 was held by Amari Cooper (2012-14) and Chris Doering of Florida (1992-95).
Caught a team-record 20 touchdowns this season.
Totaled four 200-plus yard receiving games for his career, including two this season, to set the Alabama career mark.
DBU? Smith had 231 yards and three touchdowns at LSU. Last year he had 213 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns. The only opponent Smith had more career yards against was Ole Miss, with 466.
DBUII: As for the other program that likes to claim it deserves to be called DBU, Florida, Smith had 15 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns in the SEC Championship Game.
Had the signature moment, the one-handed touchdown catch at LSU.
Voted team MVP and a team captain for the second straight year.