Eagles WR DeVonta Smith Haunts Commanders' 1st-Round Pick Emmanuel Forbes?
PHILADELPHIA - Emmanuel Forbes was just a skinny freshman at Mississippi State when he first matched up with DeVonta Smith, the former University of Alabama receiver who was on his way to becoming the first player at his position to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991.
It didn’t go well for Forbes. Smith ran roughshod over Forbes and the Bulldogs that day in 2020, to the tune of 203 yards and four, count ’em, four touchdowns.
So, it sort of made sense when Forbes was asked during an interview shortly after being drafted at No. 16 overall by the Washington Commanders, who he would like to lie up against.
“DeVonta Smith," he said. "I had him my freshman year … and he put up 250 on us.”
Forbes gave Smith a little more credit than was due, but don’t expect Smith to be any less motivated for being handed an extra 47 yards when he and his Philadelphia Eagles teammates line up against Forbes and the Commanders twice next season.
Forbes’ chirping may ultimately prove to be a bad idea.
Three years later, he is still on the slender side, checking in at 166 pounds.
That’s about what Smith weighed when the Eagles traded up two spots with the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 NFL, going from the 12th overall pick to No. 10.
Smith, though, has added a few pounds and strengthened what was already there. In the process, he has become one of the NFL’s top receivers playing opposite A.J. Brown.
In his two seasons, he has made 159 catches for 2,112 yards and 12 touchdowns. He set the Eagles’ rookie record for most yards receiving with 916 to knock DeSean Jackson out of the top spot he had held since 2008.
He already has 20 catches and 302 yards in four games against the Commanders with a 3-1 record against them.
In last year’s first meeting, he was unstoppable, making a variety of acrobatic catches to finish with a career-high 169 yards on eight receptions and a touchdown in Philly's 24-8 win.
The NFL schedule is due to be released on May 11, so the first meeting between Forbes and Smith won’t be known until then. It wouldn’t be a surprise, though, if Smith circles the date.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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