BY AL ZAFFIRI
There have been many narratives during the 2024 season leading up to this historic Super Bowl Championship for the Philadelphia Eagles.
One of the quietest narratives has been the importance of DeVonta Smith.
During his short tenure with Philadelphia, he has been given many nicknames: Skinny Batman, the Slim Reaper, but what about Silent Assassin?
Smith, at age 26, has amassed quite a resume. He has been level-headed and almost stealthy in an NFL that has produced many diva wide receivers.
His composure has been his deadliest weapon. DeVonta has played like most #1 wide receiver options but has happily settled in at No. 2 behind AJ Brown. Maybe he has even used this to his advantage.
If you look at DeVonta's numbers in 2024, this was his least impressive stat line in the NFL. He had played 3-plus fewer games than his previous three years. He had his lowest total season yards at 833 yards.
His targets are the lowest since entering the league, at 89 in 2024. That is 15 targets below his second-lowest in 2021. I am sure some of that is due to the Saquon Barkley touches.
His numbers are better than ever, where it counts. His success percentage is its best in his short NFL career at 61.8 percent. His clutch factor is undeniable. Even when the team has struggled, he has been a bright light.
The one game where his dropped pass was the difference between a win or loss was the December game against the Commanders.
But in typical DeVonta fashion, he comes out the following week against Dallas and runs rampant. He put up 120 yards with two touchdowns, one 49 yards long.
In two Super Bowl appearances, DeVonta Smith has racked up 169 Yards, 3 Receptions of 15+ Yards, 6 Receptions for First Down, and 1 Touchdown.
One of the even crazier stats is that Smith is the first player drafted out of Alabama to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl. This is a hard statistic to believe, given the type of athletes produced by Alabama.
It has come full circle for DeVonta Smith. In December 2016, a dejected Smith sat on the floor of the Superdome following a 40-36 loss in the LHSAA Class 3A State Championship in his senior year of high school.
The driven Smith would win two National Championships with the Crimson Tide of Alabama, the Heisman Trophy, and now the Super Bowl, which included a touchdown reception in that very same Superdome.
DeVonta Smith became just the fifth player in history to win the Heisman, National Championship, and Super Bowl. He joins Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Reggie Bush, and Charles Woodson in elite company.
The future is bright with a young crew in Philly. DeVonta Smith will continue to be a watchful protector in midnight green. Let’s make sure this unsung champion is always remembered. *
Write Al Zaffiri at zaffiri@gmail.com
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