Alabama senior wide receiver DeVonta Smith set an SEC record with his 32nd and 33rd career touchdown receptions on Saturday, passing former Crimson Tide great Amari Cooper and former Florida star Chris Doering.
Smith hauled in a 10-yard scoring reception against visiting Kentucky in the second quarter to break the record, then added an 18-yarder in the third quarter. Smith has 10 touchdown catches in the past seven games.
Smith finished with nine catches for 144 yards, and the top-ranked Crimson Tide won 63-3.
“It’s certainly a blessing to hear my name along the greats that have come through the SEC and this school,” Smith said of his record-setting day.
Smith could build on his lead in career touchdowns with regular-season games remaining against Auburn and Arkansas before the likelihood of any postseason games.
Smith, who came to Alabama as a four-star recruit from Amite, Louisiana, burst onto the scene as a true freshman when he caught the winning touchdown in overtime of the College Football Playoff National Championship game three years ago.
He caught 14 touchdowns as a junior last season but chose to bypass the NFL to return for his senior season.
“Smitty came back because he wanted to have a great, productive year,” coach Nick Saban said after Saturday’s game. “He wanted to get a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, improve his draft status. I certainly think that he’s demonstrating that in a really positive way this year.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. currently lists Smith as the fifth-best eligible prospect — and the top wide receiver — in the upcoming NFL draft.
