DeVonta Versean Smith[1] (/dəˈvɒnteɪ/də-VON-tay; born November 14, 1998) is an American professionalfootballwide receiver for thePhiladelphia Eagles of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide, where he recorded 1,856 yards with 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2020. Smith was awarded theHeisman Trophy for his accomplishments as a senior alongside several other awards and honors. He was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman sinceDesmond Howard in 1991 and only the fourth overall. Smith won twonational championships at Alabama prior to being selected by the Eagles tenth overall in the2021 NFL draft. In his fourth season with the Eagles, Smith wonSuper Bowl LIX, becoming the fifth football player to win the Super Bowl, a college national title, and the Heisman Trophy.
Smith attendedAmite High Magnet School in his hometown ofAmite City, Louisiana.[2] He played basketball and football, as well as ran track and field.[3][4][5] A five star prospect, he committed to theUniversity of Alabama to playcollege football.[6]
As a true freshman at Alabama in 2017, Smith had eight receptions for 160 yards and threetouchdowns in eight games.[7] He scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 27-yard reception againstVanderbilt on September 23.[8] In the2018 College Football Playoff National Championship againstGeorgia, Smith's only catch of the game was the game-winning 41-yard touchdown reception in an overtime 26–23 victory.[9][10][11]
In theCollege Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, Smith had six receptions for 104 yards and one touchdown in the 45–34 victory overOklahoma.[12] As a sophomore in 2018, Smith had 42 receptions for 693 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games.[13][14][15]
On September 14, Smith had eight receptions for 136 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a 47–23 victory overSouth Carolina.[16] On September 28, Smith set career highs with 274 yards and five touchdowns in a 59–31 victory againstOle Miss.[17] On November 9, againstLSU, he had seven receptions for 213 receiving yards and two touchdowns inthe 46–41 loss.[18] Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns on 68 receptions.[19][20]
After the season, his teammatesHenry Ruggs andJerry Jeudy forfeited their remaining NCAA eligibility to enter the2020 NFL draft, where they ended up as first-round picks, but Smith decided to return to Alabama for his senior year.[21]
On October 10, againstOle Miss, Smith had 13 receptions for 164 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown to go along with a rushing touchdown in the 63–48 victory.[22] In the following game, againstGeorgia, he had 11 receptions for 167 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 41–24 victory.[23] On October 31, Smith had 11 receptions for 203 receiving yards and four touchdowns againstMississippi State in the 41–0 victory.[24] Smith outgained the entire Bulldogs team 203–200 in the victory.[25] On November 21, Smith broke the all-time SEC career record for most receiving touchdowns, with two to go along with nine receptions for 144 yards in a 63–3 victory overKentucky.[26][27] On November 28, in theIron Bowl againstAuburn, he had seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in the 42–13 victory.[28] The following week, he had eight receptions for 231 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a 55–17 victory overLSU.[29] In theSEC Championship againstFlorida, he had 15 receptions for 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 52–46 victory.[30] In theCollege Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game, he had seven receptions for 130 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the 31–14 victory.[31] In theCFP National Championship Game againstOhio State, Smith set records for title game catches (12) and touchdown receptions (three), and also totaled 215 yards, despite leaving early in the third quarter with a hand injury. Alabama won, 52–24, their sixth title in 12 years, while Smith was namedOffensive MVP of the championship game.[32][33] Smith led the nation with 117 receptions, 1,856 receiving yards, and 23 receiving touchdowns, becoming the second player in history to capture theFBS receiving triple crown.[34][35]
Smith became the first wide receiver to win theAP Player of the Year award since its inception in 1998.[36] Smith was selected over finalistsKyle Trask,Trevor Lawrence and teammateMac Jones to win the2020 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award sinceDesmond Howard in 1991 and only the fourth overall.[37][38]
While playing for Alabama, Smith set more than sevenschool receiving records. Smith accepted an invitation for the2021 Senior Bowl but did not play.[39] His nickname at Alabama was the "Slim Reaper", given to him by his teammates due to his small frame and athletic ability.[40] Smith was named as a Unanimous All-American.[41] In addition, Smith won the Biletnikoff Award, the Maxwell Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.[42][43][44][45] He was also named Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and was awarded theBest Male College Athlete ESPY Award.[46][47]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the NCAA | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Receiving | ||||||||
| Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||||
| 2017 | 8 | 160 | 20.0 | 41 | 3 | ||||
| 2018 | 42 | 693 | 16.5 | 57 | 6 | ||||
| 2019 | 68 | 1,256 | 18.5 | 85 | 14 | ||||
| 2020 | 117 | 1,856 | 15.9 | 66 | 23 | ||||
| Career | 235 | 3,965 | 16.9 | 85 | 46 | ||||
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| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft0+1⁄4 in (1.84 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 31+1⁄8 in (0.79 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 6 ft6+1⁄4 in (1.99 m) | ||||||||
| All values fromPro Day[48][49] | ||||||||||||
Smith was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles with the tenth overall selection in the2021 NFL draft, reuniting him with his first college quarterbackJalen Hurts.[50] He was the third wide receiver taken in the draft afterJa'Marr Chase andJaylen Waddle. Despite his impressive college statistics Smith fell in the draft due to concerns over his raw measurables and that his frame was considered too small to handle playing in the NFL.[51] He signed a four-year rookie contract, worth $20.1 million, on June 3, 2021.[52]
In week 1, against theAtlanta Falcons, Smith scored his first career touchdown on his first catch in the NFL.[53] He had seven receptions for 122 yards in a Week 4 loss to theKansas City Chiefs.[54] In Week 10, against theDenver Broncos, Smith had two receiving touchdowns in the 30–13 victory.[55] Smith had a solid rookie season for the Eagles, as he recorded 64 receptions for 916 yards and five touchdowns.[56] His 916 yards set the Eagles rookie record for most receiving yards in a single season.[57] Like the rest of the Eagles offense, Smith struggled during the team's 31–15 loss in theWild Card Round to theTampa Bay Buccaneers, as he ended the game with four catches (on 11 targets) for 60 yards.[58]
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In Week 3, against theWashington Commanders, Smith had eight catches for a career-high 169 yards and a touchdown in the 24–8 win.[59] In Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys, he had eight receptions for 113 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 40–34 loss.[60]
Smith had five games going over the 100-yard mark in the 2022 season. Smith finished his second season catching 95 passes for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns.[61] In theDivisional Round against theNew York Giants, he had a receiving touchdown in the 38–7 victory.[62] In theNFC Championship against theSan Francisco 49ers, Smith recorded a one-handed 29-yard reception on fourth down on the Eagles' opening drive. The catch was likely to have been ruled incomplete upon further review, but the Eagles were able to get a quick snap off before it could be challenged.[63] The catch set up the Eagles with first-and-goal, on which they were able to score a touchdown. The Eagles won the game 31–7.[64] InSuper Bowl LVII against the Chiefs, Smith was the game's leading receiver, recording seven catches for 100 yards in the 38–35 loss.[65] He was ranked 100th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[66]
In Week 2, against the Vikings, Smith had four receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in the 34–28 victory.[67] He had one other game going over the 100-yard mark on the regular season, Week 12 against the Bills. He totaled 81 receptions for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games.[68]
In theWild Card Round loss to the Buccaneers, Smith had eight receptions for 148 yards in the 32–9 loss.[69]
On April 15, 2024, Smith signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension with the Eagles.[70] In Week 17 against the Cowboys, he had six receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the 41–7 win.[71] He finished the 2024 season with 68 receptions for 833 yards and eight touchdowns.[72]
Smith caught a 46-yard touchdown thrown by game MVPJalen Hurts during the third quarter ofSuper Bowl LIX as the Eagles defeated theKansas City Chiefs 40–22, avenging theirSuper Bowl LVII loss from two years earlier and earning Smith his first Super Bowl championship.[73] Smith also became the first Alabama alumnus to catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, as well as the fifth player ever to win a Super Bowl championship, a college football national championship, and a Heisman Trophy during his career.[74][75]
In Week 7, against theMinnesota Vikings, Smith had nine catches for a career-high 183 yards and a touchdown in the 28–22 win.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | PHI | 17 | 16 | 64 | 916 | 14.3 | 46 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | PHI | 17 | 17 | 95 | 1,196 | 12.6 | 45 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 81 | 1,066 | 13.2 | 63 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | PHI | 13 | 13 | 68 | 833 | 12.3 | 49 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | PHI | 17 | 16 | 77 | 1,008 | 13.1 | 79 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 80 | 78 | 385 | 5,019 | 13.0 | 79 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 4 | 60 | 15.0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | PHI | 3 | 3 | 15 | 197 | 13.1 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 8 | 148 | 18.5 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PHI | 4 | 4 | 16 | 190 | 11.9 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 8 | 70 | 8.8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 10 | 10 | 51 | 665 | 13.0 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
On December 31, 2024, Smith announced his engagement to Mya Danielle, his childhood sweetheart. The couple have two daughters.[76]
Smith is aChristian. He has said “I know I wouldn’t be here without God. Without him blessing me with the abilities I have I wouldn’t have got here. Being alone doesn’t get you here. Just being a firm believer in Him and just Him guiding me through. He has helped me get through a lot.”[77]
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