Who is ready for a winner take all Heisman showdown in the SEC Championship Game?
Fans of both Alabama football and the Florida Gators are excited.
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Four contenders for the Heisman Memorial Trophy will be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, including three from the Crimson Tide.
Most media outlets have the tandem of Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith in a tight race for the award, and Pro Football Focus is showing nothing different. However, PFF and ESPN both have Smith as the leader in the conversation.
The 2020 Heisman Trophy race🏆 pic.twitter.com/jDcDhYTq78
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 16, 2020
A wide receiver has not hoisted the honor since Desmond Howard in 1991. The Heisman goes to the best overall player in college football and Smith has certainly been great all season.
Through 10 games of a conference-only schedule, the senior is second in the nation for receptions (83) and touchdowns (15) while collecting an NCAA-best 1,327 yards.
He has been at his best against ranked opponents — tallying five touchdowns combined versus Texas A&M, Auburn and Georgia. Smith chimes in with five 100-yard performances, including a pair of 200-yard outings in meetings with Mississippi State (203) and LSU (231).
He has five games with at least two touchdown catches, and he returned an 84-yard punt for a score versus Arkansas.
Jalen “Teez” Tabor, a former defensive back for Florida, said Marco Wilson would ‘lock up’ Smith this weekend. It will be a difficult task for Wilson and should he fail, it will open Smith up to win the Heisman.
Amari Cooper, a former Tide standout, was a finalist for the honor in 2014. He and Smith are the lone two receivers in Alabama history with 3,000-plus career receiving yards. Smith has the all-time record for career touchdowns (38) and is closing in on surpassing Cooper for catches and yards. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder is ready to blow past the Gators and win the Heisman.
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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.
