DeVonta Smith’s national title game performance landed Steve Sarkisian a top WR commit for Texas
By Jake Rill
Published:
Steve Sarkisian may be leaving Alabama to become the head coach at Texas, but he stayed with the Crimson Tide to serve as their offensive coordinator a final time in Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game. And it was one last showcase for one of the top offenses in the country.
Alabama compiled 621 total yards of offense, while Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith put on a show, hauling in 12 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half. And as it turns out, Smith’s performance did more than just build the Crimson Tide an early lead in their eventual 52-24 win.
It also landed Sarkisian a recruit for his new program.
Armani Winfield, a 4-star 2022 wide receiver from Lewisville, Texas, committed to the Longhorns during halftime of the national title game, as he watched and saw what Smith was capable of in Sarkisian’s offense. According to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.com, Sarkisian and Winfield had been in communication before the game, as the new Texas coach was trying to land a playmaker for the future.
“He had his suit and tie on about to leave the hotel. We were really chopping it up about the new era at Texas,” Winfield said, per Wiltfong. “… I saw what [Smith] did in the first half and I called [Longhorns receivers] Coach [Andre] Coleman and told him I wanted to commit. He got back to Coach Sark and it was up from there.”
So not only did Sarkisian end Monday night by celebrating a national championship, but he also landed a commitment from a recruit who could end up being a key player for Texas in the future. Talk about pulling double duty.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
