Sections

Advertisement

4 explosive DeVonta Smith plays from Alabama's College Football Playoff win over Notre Dame

DeVonta Smith is unquestionably the best wide receiver this college football season and one of the best players the game has ever seen. His speed is unbelievable, his athleticism is on its own level and when he makes monster play after monster play, he’s absolutely captivating. You can’t look away.

The Alabama senior is one of four Heisman Trophy finalists this year — joining teammate Mac Jones, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask — and the favorite. He’s the kind of player you want to get the ball just so you can see what ridiculous play he’ll make with it. He entered the game leading the nation in total receiving yards (1,511), and he was second nationally with 17 receiving touchdowns on the seasons and with 137.4 yards per game.

And his (unsurprisingly) impressive game against Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl for the first College Football Playoff semifinal on Friday perfectly encapsulated his dominance throughout the 2020 season.

Even in a playoff game against the No. 4 Fighting Irish, Smith found a way to out-do himself with a performance that helped propel the No. 1 Crimson Tide into the national championship game, set for Monday, January 11, with a 31-14 victory.

Smith finished with seven catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns, which tied the record for most touchdown catches in Rose Bowl history (even if the game wasn’t actually at the Rose Bowl). He was also named the Rose Bowl’s offensive MVP after the game.

This was Smith’s eighth game this season with at least 100 receiving yards, which is the most in a single season in Alabama history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

“He does a great job,” Alabama coach Nick Saban told ESPN after the game. “He’s a talented guy. He’s a hard worker. He does everything exactly right. He has a great understanding of what he needs to do to be able to make plays, and he makes them every chance he gets.”

Smith had so many outrageous plays in this semifinal matchup that it was too challenging to simply highlight one. So instead, here’s a look at four explosive plays from the senior wide receiver that helped lift Alabama to another national championship game appearance.

Note: These are in chronological order, not ranked because, really, who could pick the best?

[jwplayer fdppkrs1-q2aasYxh]

1
DeVonta Smith gets Bama on the board first

Smith’s first huge play of the game came on Alabama’s opening drive and ended with a touchdown that reminded defenses how ridiculously hard he is to catch or even just slow down. Notre Dame couldn’t even use the sideline as an extra defender to stop Smith on this one.

On 2nd-and-10 early in the first quarter, junior quarterback Mac Jones quickly got the ball to Smith, who made the catch and took off down the left sideline. He was beating Notre Dame’s defense just fine on his own, but sophomore wide receiver John Metchie ensured Smith would make it to the end zone with a key block inside the 10-yard line, allowing Smith to waltz right in for the first touchdown of the game.

It capped off a seven-play, 79-yard drive to get the Crimson Tide a quick 7-0 lead after the Fighting Irish started with the ball.

2
DeVonta Smith's airborne touchdown

Fairly early still in the second quarter, Smith picked up 24 yards to get his team in Fighting Irish territory, but his next jaw-dropping, explosive moment gave Alabama a 21-7 lead. Jones found Smith in the middle on 1st-and-10 from Notre Dame’s 34-yard line, and despite being chased down by seniors safety Shaun Crawford and cornerback Nick McCloud, Smith proved, once again, that he’s largely unstoppable.

Crawford nearly caught Smith but appeared to get a piece of the Heisman finalist’s leg. But Smith’s powerful momentum threw him into the end zone for his second touchdown, as he hit the field hard. It took him a second to get up, but it didn’t stop him from continuing to play Friday.

Of course, Smith’s halftime stats were as grand as you’d expect them to be. He finished the first 30 minutes with five catches for 101 yards and the two touchdowns, and he was still one of six players Jones — who threw for 182 first-half yards and was averaging 11.4 yards per play — connected with in the opening half.

3
DeVonta Smith might have levitating powers

Jones’ first pass in the third quarter was to Smith, who timed everything about this catch brilliantly. The Crimson Tide started the first half with the ball, and on 2nd-and-8 from their own 27-yard line, Jones eyed Smith deep near midfield. The pass was a little high, but Smith leaped up for it and actually seemed to levitate for forever until he pulled the ball down.

Smith picked up 22 yards on this stunner, but unfortunately for Alabama, the drive ended with the team’s second punt of the game.

But seriously, look at this!

4
DeVonta Smith gets his third TD of the game and ties an SEC record

For Alabama’s first and only touchdown of the second half, Jones and Smith showed off not only their talents but the chemistry they have together, enabling them to both be in the Heisman race. Jones’ timing on this seven-yard touchdown pass was spot-on, but Smith’s tiptoe catch in the corner of the end zone was a thing of beauty. Every angle of the replay of Smith’s reception is spectacular, and it was the game’s only score of the third quarter.

That play was also Smith’s third touchdown of the game and 20th of the season, tying former LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase for the SEC’s single-season record for receiving touchdowns.

More College Football