TUSCALOOSA, Ala — Alabama senior wide receiver DeVonta Smith was selected as the Maxwell Player of the Week, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Tuesday morning, after leading the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide to a 55-17 win on the road at LSU this past weekend. The honor is Smith’s second of the week after he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Against the Tigers, Smith produced huge numbers for the second year in a row, including:
-- Totaled eight receptions for 231 yards and three scores
-- Found the end zone from 65, 61 and 20 yards out
-- Notched his fourth career 200-plus yards receiving game to set the Alabama all-time mark
-- Was also his 11th career 100-plus yard performance to tie for the third-most at Alabama
Smith, along with teammates Mac Jones and Najee Harris, was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award on Monday. He was also one of 11 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
On the season, the Amite, La., native has accumulated 1,305 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns on 80 receptions. The 2020 campaign marks the second consecutive year he has eclipsed 1,200 yards, becoming just the third player in SEC history with 1,200 receiving yards in multiple seasons, joining A.J. Brown (Ole Miss) and Jordan Matthews (Vanderbilt).
He has put together a monster 2020 campaign, but his numbers have been near unbelievable over his last four contests, propelling him into the Heisman Trophy conversation. The senior has recorded 749 yards and 11 touchdowns on 35 catches across the current streak.
“I love Smitty,” said Alabama head coach Nick Saban after the win over LSU. “I think he’s an outstanding player for our team. 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.”
