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2020 NFL Draft: DeVonta Smith should be in first-round discussion

By Jacob Schyvinck

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 9: DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball after catching a pass during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 38-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 9: DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball after catching a pass during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 38-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Other Alabama Crimson Tide receivers are getting first-round hype. DeVonta Smith should be getting it too.

We haven’t seen a better wide receiver group in college football than the one possessed by the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide. Every member of Alabama’s receiving corps has been the recipient of early draft hype, and DeVonta Smith needs to be in the first-round discussion come April after what has been a brilliant junior season.

Smith has improved his production significantly from 2018. In his sophomore season, Smith had just 693 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. This season, through 10 games, Smith has caught 56 passes for 1,026 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The public may look deeper and see that the majority of his production came in three games. However, each of those performances was against quality SEC opposition.

Smith caught eight passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns against South Carolina and destroyed Ole Miss by bringing in 11 receptions for 274 yards and five scores. Most recently, he toasted LSU freshman Derek Stingley as Smith racked up seven catches for 213 yards and two touchdowns in a losing cause.

So the production is there. What about Smith’s tape? Well, it’s been an excellent year for Smith because of on-field improvements. Consistently showing his ability to sink his hips and change direction with ease, Smith’s release has been superb, helping him get into his stem nearly untouched to start his routes and immediately giving him an advantage.

Once Smith gets into his route, he can create separation in a variety of ways. His change-of-direction skills allow him to stop on a dime for hitch and comeback routes. Smith also boasts significantly better long speed than he’s given credit for and possesses the best hands of any Alabama receiver, rarely using his body to catch the ball.

Capable of taking any play the distance, Smith’s agility makes him dangerous after the catch and, though he does have a slight frame at 6’1″ and 175 pounds, that should not scare off teams from a receiver with a skill set as refined as his.

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Smith has yet to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. If and when he does, he should instantly be in the first-round conversation.

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