DeVonta Smith explodes for 215 yards, 3 TDs in 1st half of CFP title game
For those still wondering who the best player in college football is, DeVonta Smith provided a reminder Monday night.
The Alabama wideout caught 12 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of the Collge Football Playoff national championship game against Ohio State. The Crimson Tide led 35-17 at the break.
OH MY DEVONTA SMITH 🤯
— ESPN (@espn) January 12, 2021
That makes THREE TOUCHDOWNS for the Heisman winner 🔥 pic.twitter.com/u9qpKEKnTC
The Heisman Trophy winner broke the CFP title game record for receptions (10) in just 30 minutes of action, and was only 7 yards shy of topping Ja'Marr Chase's mark for receiving yards (221).
Smith also broke the SEC all-time receiving record and eclipsed some marks set by the last two receivers to win the Heisman:
before Devonta Smith, two wide receivers had won the Heisman Trophy: Tim Brown and Desmond Howard. Their combined full-season stats: 1,831 yards, 22 touchdowns
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) January 12, 2021
Devonta Smith, this season (with a half to go): 1,856 yards, 23 touchdowns
"Unbelievable," the wideout said postgame. "We just finished writing our story. That was the whole thing of us coming back, just finishing the story that we wanted to write. And we did that."
Unfortunately, the historic performance was cut short, as Smith suffered a hand injury on his first target of the second half and didn't re-enter the game. Smith, who's widely expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, shrugged off his injury.
"I'll be alright," he said.