Nick Saban owes a lot to his 2017 recruiting class, especially the players on offense.
The group rescued Alabama to a College Football Playoff National Championship and has won two Southeastern Conference titles. It has had four Heisman finalists — Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris — and one Biletnikoff Award winner (Jerry Jeudy).
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Alabama’s new career leader for receiving yards (3,260) and touchdown catches (40) is also from the class.
Smith has gone from being overlooked to becoming the greatest player at his position to ever suit up for the Crimson Tide in his tenure. He also leads the SEC for career scores and is second in conference history in yards.
The senior ranks first in the nation for receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,511) this year, while having 17 touchdown receptions. He totaled seven 100-yard games in an SEC-only schedule, including a pair of 200-yard outings against Mississippi State (203) and LSU (231) for the Tide.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder showed out in the SEC Championship Game, recording 15 catches for 184 yards with two scores in a meeting with Florida. His excellence versus the Gators’ secondary led to a 52-46 victory and Alabama’s 28th SEC title in school history. Smith has been a recipient of a couple of national accolades thus far and according to CBS Sports, the Louisiana native was awarded the outlet’s Player of the Year honor. In its six games featured on CBS, Alabama got huge performances from the former four-star against Georgia (167 yards, two scores), Auburn (171 yards, two scores), LSU (231 yards, three scores) and Florida (184 yards, two scores). He has transformed himself into a high first-round pick for the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Smith is a finalist for Maxwell and Biletnikoff awards, as well as the Heisman Memorial Trophy.
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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.
