The Heisman Trophy helps Alabama football’s odds to win a ring
DeVonta Smith became the third Alabama football player to win the Heisman Trophy after beating out Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones and Kyle Trask for the award. Now that the hardware is secured, the team will be focusing on their upcoming National Championship game against Ohio State.
While every season is different, there is still some history on Alabama’s side with this matter. Before Smith, the only Heisman winners in Alabama history were Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry. Alabama football won the National Championship in both of their Heisman seasons, and they played pivotal roles in the postseason.
Mark Ingram scored the clutch touchdown against Texas to finish the 2009 season and put that game on ice. Against Clemson, Derrick Henry ran for over 150 yards and 3 touchdowns. These players earned the Heisman for their work in the regular season, but they reached new heights in the championship games.
DeVonta Smith will be looking to do the same for the Crimson Tide. He has been a juggernaut all season, but he has a chance to end his collegiate career with a massive win. It would bookend his Alabama career with two national championships.
DeVonta Smith has a key matchup against the Buckeyes. He will likely line up against Shaun Wade on the outside. Wade is a natural talent in the slot, but he has struggled with the change to playing outside. This will be the toughest test of Wade’s career, and DeVonta Smith is ready to do his part.
This win for DeVonta Smith is historic. The last wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy was Desmond Howard. Despite being a finalist amongst three quarterbacks, he let his play do the talking and earned the Heisman on the field. While the National Championship has nothing to do with votes, he will use it to prove that he earned the Heisman. In the process, Alabama football fans hope he will also earn another ring before he heads to the NFL.