Both players are expected to have huge seasons for Alabama football.
On Thursday, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced its candidates for the Fred Biletnikoff Award. The duo of DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle were selected to represent the University of Alabama, as the honor is presented to college football’s top wide receiver.
Smith, a senior from Amite, La., exploded in 2019 as the team’s leader for receiving yards (1,256) and touchdowns (14) while catching 68 passes.
He recorded three 100-yard outings, including a pair of 200-yard receiving performances versus Mississippi and LSU.
RELATED: Alabama RB Najee Harris named to 2020 Doak Walker Award watch list
Smith became the first Crimson Tide receiver since Amari Cooper in 2014 to total two 200-yard games in a single-season.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder has all the tools in being an exceptional route-runner – especially strong hands, attention to details, instincts and manipulating defenders. Despite his size, Smith is also a very good blocker too.
Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle scores a touchdown versus Georgia in 2018 SEC Championship/ Photo comes via Jason Getz – USA Today Sports
Waddle, a junior from Houston, Texas, caught 33 passes for 560 yards with six scores as a sophomore last season.
He averaged 16.9 yards per catch and has proven to be very difficult to tackle in space. While he plans on creating more buzz at receiver this fall, Waddle has national media’s attention on special teams. He was electrifying in returning punts and kickoffs, collecting 662 yards combined with two touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 182-pounder tallied 24.4 yards per punt return and 35 yards per kickoff return.
Since 1994, Cooper and Jerry Jeudy were the two Alabama standouts to win the Biletnikoff Award. Cooper was awarded in 2014, following a single-season school record performance of 1,727 receiving yards with 16 touchdowns on 124 catches. He paced the Tide’s offense to a Southeastern Conference Championship and its first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff.
Jeudy received the honor in 2018 after he brought in 68 receptions for 1,315 yards and 14 scores.
Like Cooper, Jeudy helped Alabama win an SEC title and punch its ticket to the CFP.
Both Smith and Waddle will have stiff competition for the award; however, both players are seeking a first-round NFL Draft stock. They are looking to put on a show in the upcoming fall.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*
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.
