Former Alabama defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt will be at Bryant-Denny Stadium in his second-year as head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. The “Third Saturday in October” matchup will feature old customs – including the smoking of cigars – however, it will happen under the lights and with a new installment from the Crimson Tide’s athletic director, Greg Byrne.
For today, the rivalry will also be without one of college football’s consistent players for one half.
DeVonta Smith, junior wide receiver for Alabama, was suspended by the coaching staff for throwing a punch out of frustration against Texas A&M.
He was involved in an altercation with another player in the second half and was provoked into responding.
While he currently has the team lead in receiving yards (636) and touchdowns (nine), the trajectory between he and teammate – Jerry Jeudy – has been different since week two versus New Mexico State.
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Jeudy, the 2018 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner, started the year with back-to-back 100-yard performance.
Since week two, the connection of he and Tagovailoa has decreased while Tagovailoa and Smith have caught fire.
Smith, like Jeudy, has a pair of 100-yard games and a career outing of 274 yards receiving with five scores in Alabama’s 59-31 win over the Mississippi Rebels.
The frustration with Jeudy and his quarterback came to head against the Aggies, when Tagovailoa tossed his first interception of the year.
Despite his receiver wanting to sit in one window, the 2018 Heisman runner-up looked for his No. 1 target to continue the route.
Though he is usually calm, the native Hawaiian got into Jeudy’s face and television cameras documented the argument. Regardless of it not being anything too serious, Jeudy is heralded by most analysts as the No. 1 receiver and possibly No. 1 overall pick for the 2020 NFL Draft.
He has not recorded a touchdown catch in two games.
Expect this to change versus the Volunteers as Tagovailoa seeks to regain the chemistry with his primary guy. Tennessee has talent in its defensive backfield, but with national media pushing Joe Burrow for the Heisman and Darrell Taylor (Vols’ linebacker) referring to Tagovailoa as a ‘decent’ quarterback, the Crimson Tide would like to see nothing less than its star trigger man linking up with Jeudy under the LED lighting feature.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder has 538 yards with six scores on 42 catches through six games.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
