Best player in country? Nick Saban weighs in about DeVonta Smith’s outstanding season
By Keith Farner
Published:
Once he made the one-handed touchdown catch in the back of the end zone against LSU on Saturday, the talk of DeVonta Smith being a contender for the Heisman Trophy was in full gear.
Make no mistake, Smith will likely be viewed more seriously as a Heisman candidate after his incredible catch that had jaws dropped around Tiger Stadium and millions watching on CBS. Smith added to his SEC record of 35 touchdown catches, a mark he set earlier this season. Against LSU, Smith had 8 catches for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns.
It prompted reporters to ask coach Nick Saban if Smith is the best player in the country.
“I don’t see every player play in the country. I love Smitty. I think he’s an outstanding player for our team,” Saban said in his post-game press conference. “He’s probably done as much this year for our team as any player that we’ve ever had. He’s a great leader on the team. It’s not fair to compare him to somebody else that you didn’t even see, but I don’t think there’s many players in the country that have done more for their team than Smitty does for our team.”
Smith is having the best season of his Alabama career, with 80 catches for 1,305 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdowns.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
