There is one player in Alabama’s secondary that is often overlooked and sparingly mentioned in the media. That player is redshirt junior DeVonta Smith.
Over the course of his college career, Smith has battled through injuries and been behind several first-round picks on the depth chart. This season has been different. The Ohio native has taken on a leadership role and has been a key player in Alabama’s secondary. Alabama cornerbacks coach Maurice Linguist harped on both his leadership and development on Wednesday morning.
“You look at DeVonta Smith and he’s really writing a good story for himself this year. You look at last year’s tape, he was a guy that was talked about to us that had promise. I think he’s taken advantage of the reps that he has been able to have and the reps he has been given in the game,” Linguist said, “He is turning into a reliable, dependable player when he’s out there. He is a guy that can execute. He can cover on the slot. He has a really good feel for the curl-flat and how to play zone with zone instincts. He is a good communicator on the field, and I think his presence and energy is something that can almost be undervalued but is something that can kind of drip over to the other players with him especially when we have some younger guys out there. What does it take to kind of go out there and compete and win in the SEC? I think him along with Malachi (Moore) and some of these older guys are setting a really good example of that.”
Smith has recorded 15 tackles, five pass deflections, and one forced fumble this season. His patience and dedication to the Alabama football program seems to be paying off. He is a very valuable asset to Alabama’s defense and will continue to be for the rest of the season.
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Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.
