DeVonta Smith is going to need a massive trophy case.
After winning SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year, CBS Sports’ Player of the Year and Sporting News’ Player of the Year, the wide receiver for Alabama football can add Associated Press’ Player of the Year to his list of awards.
RELATED: Pete Golding on his butt chewing from Nick Saban at SEC Championship Game: “That’s part of it. That ain’t nothing new”
For the first time since 1998, a receiver has won AP Player of the Year.
Per an announcement on Tuesday from the AP, Smith scored 26 first-place votes and finished with 114 total points to secure the honor.
He beat out his teammates, Mac Jones, who had five first-place votes and 67 points. Seventeen of the 22 student-athletes that won player of the year ended up winning the Heisman Trophy too.
Smith is one of four top finalists for the award, as he looks to become the first wide receiver since Desmond Howard in 1991 to capture it.
He leads all of college football for receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,511), while ranking second in the nation for touchdown catches (17).
Smith is responsible for 19 total scores, including an 84-yard punt return touchdown versus Arkansas. He has averaged 137.4 yards per game this season.
Along with making first-team All-SEC, Smith was also named first-team All-American for the AP and Sporting News.
He is one selector away from garnering consensus All-American status.
Nick Saban, Alabama’s head coach, has raved about Smith for his leadership, selflessness and production as a player.
He was voted the Most Valuable Player and a permanent team captain by his teammates at the Crimson Tide’s annual awards banquet.
Notre Dame will have its hands full in trying to defend him at the Rose Bowl (CFP semifinal) on New Year’s Day.
*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
