re: 2020 FB Recruiting & Roster

quote:

---

For a fifth consecutive offseason, BamaOnLine is counting down Alabama’s top 25 most important players ahead of the Crimson Tide’s fast-approaching fall camp and 2019 football season.

We continue our rankings with junior wide receiver DeVonta Smith at No. 22.

*** Breakdown of Alabama’s Top-25 Most Important Players for 2019: Two things went into consideration in this breakdown. One was how much the player would see the field this fall. With that condition, the list is primarily made up of starters. The second aspect is the player’s importance to the team, meaning if they are replacing a starter at a key position and how hard it would be to replace them should something occur to force them out of commission.

SMITH PROFILE
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown: Amite, La. High School: Amite

247Sports Composite ranking: 4-star (2017)
- No. 62 nationally - No. 9 wide receiver - No. 2 in state of La

2019 OUTLOOK
Smith rose into a starting role last season as a sophomore after he was heavily involved in the Crimson Tide’s offense as a true freshman in 2017, catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Georgia in the national title game. As one of three sophomore starters, Smith amassed 693 yards on 42 catches for a 16.5 yards per catch average and also contributed six touchdown receptions. Twenty-six of his 42 catches in 2018 went for a first down or touchdown.

He will have the same role this fall as a junior as Alabama’s offense welcomes back four of its top five receivers from a year ago -- Smith was No. 5 behind Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs III and departing tight end Irv Smith Jr. At this point, we know what to expect from all four wide receivers that have starting experience, including Smith, but that gives the Tide a veteran receiving corps for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to work with.

“It’s been great because everybody’s coming along, everybody’s finally getting the feel of like, this is us. This is the group that we’re going to have,” Smith said during spring practice. “And we’ve been here for a minute so it’s just everyone kind of getting held to the same expectation.”

WHY NO. 22?
Last year, I lumped Jeudy, Ruggs and Smith together at No. 10 on the rankings for the 2018 season. That obviously won’t be the case this year. I tried to keep that to a minimum and only for a couple of positions that at the bottom of the rankings. Smith is one of four receivers to make the list this offseason, but he comes in as the lowest-ranked of the quartet. So, why is that?

When looking at the trio of juniors, Smith has been third in receptions and receiving yards the last two years while Jeudy and Ruggs have produced better numbers. Then the emergence of Waddle as another option in the passing game a season ago, along with his ability as a return man, gives the sophomore a little bit of an edge in terms of importance -- the reason for these rankings.

Do I think Smith can have a great season and post better numbers than 2018? Yes. He dealt with a hamstring injury in the second half of the regular season that hampered his production, and he also doesn’t have Irv Smith Jr. to deal with in terms of competition for touches. He has all the tools to be a No. 1 receiver, but his teammates at the same position have simply had better stats.

That’s why Smith comes in at No. 22. But the fact that Alabama has four receivers ranked in the top 25 for its upcoming season shows just how potent the Tide’s passing game could be this fall.

WHAT SAY YOU?

*** Below are the players that are ranked below Smith at No. 22.
25. PKs Joseph Bulovas and Will Reichard
24. QBs Mac Jones and Taulia Tagovailoa
23. OL Matt Womack

---

quote:

---

He worked out at inside linebacker and defensive end. He measured 6-3.5, 240-pounds
Seems Bama is his 1st choice, but doesnt have an offer.. Bama wants to see him play D this fail...

---