DeVonta Smith is an American football wide receiver and currently plies his trade in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was drafted by the Eagles in the 1st round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has just completed his rookie season in the NFL.
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Who is DeVonta Smith?
DeVonta Smith was born on November 14, 1998 in Amite City, Louisiana. He did his high school at Amite Magnet High School in Amite City. Apart from his interest in football, he showed a fine aptitude to be a basketball player as well. He committed to the University of Alabama to play his collegiate football for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2017-20.
In 2017, his true freshman year, Smith made eight receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. The following year, his sophomore season, he made 42 receptions for 693 yards and six touchdowns. The 2019 season saw him continue his development, as he led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns on 68 receptions.
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2020 was the breakthrough year for Smith though. That year, the ‘slim reaper’, as he was nicknamed by his teammates, achieved career-high figures with 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns on 117 receptions. The pathbreaking season came with its share of top accolades- he became the first wide receiver ever to win the AP Player of the Year, and also went on to win the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver since 1991 to claim the prestigious trophy.
Smith was in heavy demand once he had confirmed his participation in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles eventually traded up two spots with the Dallas Cowboys to make him the 10th overall pick of the 2021 draft. He was signed on June 3rd to a 4-year rookie contract worth $20.1 million.
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He made his professional debut against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the 2021 season, scoring his first career touchdown with his very first catch in the NFL. He enjoyed a promising rookie campaign recording 64 receptions for 916 yards and 5 touchdowns throughout the season. In fact, his 916 yards were a new rookie record for most receiving yards in a single season for the Eagles.
