On the heels of watching Travis Hunter win a Heisman Trophy as a receiver and cornerback dual-threat star, former Alabama and current Philadelphia Eagles star playmaker DeVonta Smith wanted to clarify his position in the history books. Joining Carmelo Anthony on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Smith was questioned about his collegiate experience and how he fit into the conversation.
Smith gave his flowers to the other three receivers in college football history to have won a Heisman Trophy. That exclusive list includes Smith, Hunter, Tim Brown, and Desmond Howard.
He was also quick to mention two former Alabama greats, Amari Cooper and Julio Jones, plus elite producers in Cooper Kupp and Justin Blackman.
The surprising part came when Anthony pushed Smith on where he views himself. Like a typical receiver, Smith quickly responded that he was the best to have done it.
“I’m No. 1,” Smith said. “But then again, the receiver in me that kind of watched other receivers, like guys that didn’t get the opportunities I had. Like you had Julio (Jones), run first offense, was the only option in the pass game, doing the things that he did. You had Coop (Amari Cooper) who was just like cooking everybody. Justin Blackman. He won Biletnikoff back to back. It’s guys like that…I know I was cooking, but they was cooking too. You gotta have respect for them. Those guys kind of made me want to do what I did, take my receiver stuff to another level.”
With two national championships in his back pocket and a Heisman, he might be the most accomplished receiver in college football history. His production tracks, too, catching 98 receptions, 1,511 yards, and 17 touchdowns in 2020 alone.
