Ohio State defensive back Shaun Wade made numerous headlines and got the attention of Alabama fans when he declared he was ready to cover DeVonta Smith.

“You already know who I want to go up against at the end of the day,” Wade told reporters ahead of Monday night’s game.

Wade, however, was unable to slow down the Heisman Trophy-winner. Smith had 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of Alabama’s 52-24 thumping of Ohio State.

Now, after an up-and-down season that ended on the low note of Smith’s big night in Miami Gardens, Wade’s NFL Draft stock is down according to ESPN’s Todd McShay.

“I think (Wade) proved he belongs inside,” McShay said on ESPN’s First Draft podcast. “He’s a nickel corner. He can play a little free safety. He can move around. He’s physical, He’s tough. He can tackle in the open field really well. We saw that last night. But he is not cut out, at least at this point, to be a perimeter, cover corner that takes away your No. 1 wide receiver. He’s just not. We’ve seen it all year. It’s too bad to see. Everyone expected it because you watch (Jeff Okudah) go to the NFL Draft and he was kind of waiting his turn. And everyone expected he’s the next guy up, the five-star recruit. And he just hasn’t been.

“He’s a slot cover corner who can play that overhang. He can be physical. He can play the run. He can be very effective. He can play on special teams. I think he’s a day-two pick. He’s probably a second-round pick when it’s said and done.”

While it was admirable of Wade to embrace the challenge, he might be regretting wanting to go up against Smith.

[H/T 247Sports]