Crimson Tide’s Smith, Jones named as Heisman Trophy finalists
University of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith were named as 2020 Heisman Trophy finalists as The Heisman Trophy Trust revealed the four finalists on an ESPN telecast on Thursday night.
Alabama senior running back Najee Harris finished No. 5 in the voting, narrowly missing finalist status.
Joining Smith and Jones as finalists Florida quarterback Kyle Trask and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The winner of the 2020 Heisman Trophy will be announced on Tuesday, January 5, at 6 p.m. CT.
Smith was named as the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year by both the SEC Coaches and the Associated Press earlier this week. Jones was selected as the first-team quarterback on the SEC poll released by both groups.
Smith statistical accomplishments:
1st - career receiving yards at Alabama (3,620)
3rd - career receptions at Alabama (216)
3rd - career 100-plus yard games at Alabama (12)
4th - career yards per catch average at Alabama - min. 100 receptions (16.8)
Owns a four- and five-touchdown game making him the only receiver in SEC history with multiple career games totaling four or more receiving touchdowns
Holds the SEC and Alabama career record for receiving touchdowns with 40, passing the previous mark of 31 held by Amari Cooper (2012-14) and Chris Doering of Florida (1992-95)
Ranks second for career receiving yards in SEC records
Owns the Alabama record for the most 200-plus yard receiving performances in Alabama history with four
One of four Alabama wideouts to have multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons (also Jerry Jeudy, Amari Cooper and DJ Hall)
2020 Season (National Ranks)
1st - receptions (98)
1st - receiving yards (1,511)
1st - yards after the catch (768)
2nd - receiving touchdowns (17)
2nd - receiving yards per game (137.4)
2nd - receptions per game (8.9)
4th - total touchdowns (19)
9th - all-purpose yards per game (160.4)
Top-rated receiver by PFF in 2020 and in the history of the site (93.7)
Averaging 29.4 yards per touchdown reception
Totaled six scores of 35-plus yards
Converted a first down or a touchdown on a team-high 68 of his receptions this season
UA Single-Season Ranks
1st - receiving touchdowns (17)
2nd - receiving yards (1,511)
2nd - receptions (98)
Jones’ statistical accomplishments:
Recorded four of the Crimson Tide's 10 400-plus yards passing performances in program history, the most by any one quarterback
Tied for first in SEC history for single-season 400-plus yard passing performances
Holds the Alabama record for most career completions of 85-plus yards (four)
2020 Season (National Ranks)
1st - total QBR (95.6)
1st - NFL passer rating (139.6)
1st - collegiate pass efficiency rating (202.3)
1st - completion percentage (76.5)
1st - adjusted completion percentage (82.8)
1st - PFF Offensive Grade for quarterbacks (95.3)
1st - yards per pass attempt (11.43)
2nd - PFF Passing Grade (94.3)
2nd - passing yards (3,739)
2nd - passing touchdowns (32)
3rd - passing yards per game (339.9)
5th - yards per pass completion (14.96)
Most passing yards by an Alabama quarterback through the first 11 games of a season (3,739)
Highest completion percentage through 11 games in program history - minimum 100 attempts (76.5)
Totaled 18 touchdowns and 1,572 yards (393.0 ypg) with a 219.10 passer rating against ranked opponents (Texas A&M, Georgia, Auburn, Florida)
Alabama has had two Heisman Trophy winners, running backs Mark Ingram Jr. (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015). The first Heisman Trophy was awarded in 1936 but the Heisman Trust first began recognizing finalists along with the winner in 1983. Previous finalists from Alabama, in addition to the two winners, include wide receiver/kick returner David Palmer (1993), quarterback Jay Barker (1994), Trent Richardson (2011), A.J. McCarron (2013), Amari Cooper (2014) and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (2018).
Six sets of prior teammates have been finalists in the same year since 1983: Ki-Jana Carter and Kerry Collins of Penn State (1994), Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee of Miami (2002), Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush of USC and also Adrian Peterson and Jason White of Oklahoma (2004), Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook of Oklahoma (2016) and Justin Fields and Chase Young of Ohio State (2019).
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or via Twitter @cecilhurt