DeVonta Smith

Early life

Smith attended Amite High Magnet School in his hometown of Amite City, Louisiana. He played basketball and football, as well as ran track and field. A five star prospect, he committed to the University of Alabama to play college football.

2017 season

As a true freshman at Alabama in 2017, Smith had eight receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. He scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 27-yard reception against Vanderbilt on September 23. In the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia, Smith's only catch of the game was the game-winning 41-yard touchdown reception on a 2nd and 26 in an overtime 26–23 victory.

2018 season

In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, Smith had six receptions for 104 yards and one touchdown in the 45–34 victory over Oklahoma. As a sophomore in 2018, Smith had 42 receptions for 693 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games.

2019 season

On September 14, Smith had eight receptions for 136 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a 47–23 victory over South Carolina. On September 28, Smith set career highs with 274 yards and five touchdowns in a 59–31 victory against Ole Miss. On November 9, against LSU, he had seven receptions for 213 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 46–41 loss. Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns on 68 receptions.

After the season, his teammates Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy forfeited their remaining NCAA eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL draft, where they ended up as first-round picks, but Smith decided to return to Alabama for his senior year.

2020 season

On October 10, against Ole Miss, Smith had 13 receptions for 164 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown to go along with a rushing touchdown in the 63–48 victory. In the following game, against Georgia, he had 11 receptions for 167 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 41–24 victory. On October 31, Smith had 11 receptions for 203 receiving yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State in the 41–0 victory. Smith outgained the entire Bulldogs team 203–200 in the victory. On November 21, Smith broke the all-time SEC career record for most receiving touchdowns, with two to go along with nine receptions for 144 yards in a 63–3 victory over Kentucky. On November 28, in the Iron Bowl against Auburn, he had seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in the 42–13 victory. The following week, he had eight receptions for 231 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a 55–17 victory over LSU. In the SEC Championship against Florida, he had 15 receptions for 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 52–46 victory. In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game, he had seven receptions for 130 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the 31–14 victory. In the CFP National Championship Game against Ohio State, Smith set records for title game catches (12) and touchdown receptions (three), and also totaled 215 yards, despite leaving early in the third quarter with a hand injury. Alabama won, 52–24, their sixth title in 12 years, while Smith was named Offensive MVP of the championship game. Smith led the nation with 117 receptions, 1,856 receiving yards, and 23 receiving touchdowns, becoming the second player in history to capture the FBS receiving triple crown.

Smith became the first wide receiver to win the AP Player of the Year award since its inception in 1998. Smith was selected over finalists Kyle Trask, Trevor Lawrence and teammate Mac Jones to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award since Desmond Howard in 1991 and only the fourth overall.

While playing for Alabama, Smith set more than seven school receiving records. Smith accepted an invitation for the 2021 Senior Bowl but did not play. His nickname at Alabama was the "Slim Reaper", given to him by his teammates due to his small frame and athletic ability. Smith was named as a Unanimous All-American. In addition, Smith won the Biletnikoff Award, the Maxwell Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He was also named Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and was awarded the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award.

Personal life

On June 13, 2026, Smith married Mya Danielle, his childhood sweetheart. The couple have two daughters.

Smith is a Christian. He said, “I know I wouldn’t be here without God. Without him blessing me with the abilities I have I wouldn’t have got here. Being alone doesn’t get you here. Just being a firm believer in Him and just Him guiding me through. He has helped me get through a lot.”