Alabama boasts two of the four candidates for college football’s most prestigious award

 

12/5/20 MFB Alabama vs
Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6)
Photo by Kent Gidley

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith were named two of the four finalists for the 2020 Heisman Trophy, the Heisman Memorial Trust announced on Christmas Eve on ESPN. Jones and Smith are joined by Clemson’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s quarterback Kyle Trask.

 

Running backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015) were Alabama’s first two Heisman winners. Jones and Smith join Ingram, Henry, Amari Cooper (2014), AJ McCarron (2013), Trent Richardson (2011) and Tua Tagovailoa (2018) as the seventh and eighth players to be named a finalist for the award under head coach Nick Saban.

 

Running back Najee Harris finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Harris is a finalist for Doak Walker and Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year. The running back leads the nation in total touchdowns (27) and rushing touchdowns (24) along with scoring (162).

 

Alabama is the second team ever to place three players in the top five of the same Heisman vote, joining 1946 Army with Glenn Davis, Doc Blanchard and Arnold Tucker.

 

Mac Jones

  • The selection is the fifth national finalist honor, as he was previously announced as a finalist for the Davey O’Brien, Manning, Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Player of the Year awards
  • One of college football’s top passers who leads the nation in seven separate categories including total QBR, PFF offensive grade for a quarterback, adjusted completion percentage, completion percentage, NFL passer rating, collegiate pass efficiency rating and yards per pass attempt
  • Thrown for the second-most passing yards in the nation (3,739)
  • Owns four of Alabama’s 10 all-time 400-plus yard passing performances, the most by any one quarterback at UA and a number that ties the SEC record for a single season
  • Totaled 18 touchdowns and 1,572 yards with a 219.10 passer rating against ranked opponents (Texas A&M, Georgia, Auburn, Florida)

 

DeVonta Smith

  • Picks up this fourth national finalist honor after being announced as a finalist for the Biletnikoff, Hornung and Maxwell Player of the Year awards
  • The national leader in receptions (98), receiving yards (1,511) and yards after the catch (768) while ranking second in receiving touchdowns (17) and receiving yards per game (137.4)
  • Pro Football Focus’ top-rated wide receiver this season and in the history of the site at 93.7
  • Holds program record in both career receiving yards (3,620) and single-season receiving scores while sitting at second in the Tide record book for receptions (98) in a season
  • Totaled four 200-plus yard receiving games for his career, including two this season, to set the Alabama career mark

 

The 2020 Heisman Trophy winner will be announced starting at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. The announcement will take place virtually.