Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, the Alabama standout receiver and one of the best players available in the upcoming 2021 NFL draft, knows his size and slender frame might cause apprehension for some decision-makers in the NFL.
But when Smith hears the chatter, it just fuels him even more.
“I like people doubting me. It makes me keep going, and it just puts a bigger chip on my shoulder,” Smith said during an interview Wednesday on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”
“All the doubters, I love it. I just keep pushing and keep proving them wrong.”
Smith was listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds during his senior season at Alabama, where he caught 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 receiving touchdowns, leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship last month.
Smith’s production is unquestionable, but his size remains the biggest issue for teams such as the Miami Dolphins ahead of the draft in April.
The Dolphins own the No. 3 pick — among four Miami picks in the top 50 — and could use their top pick to select Smith and reunite him with his college teammate quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who met with Smith during the Senior Bowl last week, appeared adamant he is willing to overlook Smith’s stature when evaluating him ahead of the draft.
“If you’re a good player, you can nitpick all you want about a guy’s size. Good players are good players. I think we can all see that. This guy is a very good player,” Flores said of Smith. “He made a lot of big plays in college. He made a lot of plays in the big games, biggest games of the year.”
“He’s a very good player, and it’s been good getting to know him, too,” Flores added. “He’s a good kid, too.”
Smith and Tagovailoa have both shared their desires to play together again in recent weeks.
It started when Tagovailoa posted a photo of himself and Smith after Alabama won the national title. And it has continued with a series of interviews this week before the Super Bowl.
“It’ll be a blessing just to be [drafted] anywhere, but if it worked out like that, that would be good just going back and playing with him, and getting another chance to do it with him again,” Smith said when asked again about playing with Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa, during a SiriusXM interview this week, said playing with Smith again “would be very special because of the chemistry we already have and the impact I know they would be able to have helping out our team.”
The Dolphins are in desperate need for offensive playmakers after Tagovailoa’s rookie season, and will surely use free agency and the draft to address those needs.
If the Dolphins draft Smith, here’s what the franchise and Dolphins fans can expect:
“The minute I step in the building, it’s going to be all business. I’m going to be the hardest worker on the team,” Smith said.
“I’m going to come in, do the extra work, things like that, be a leader, do the things I do and just be me. Most of all, just be me and be the person I am.”
Smith finished his college career with 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of Alabama’s 52-24 win over Ohio State in the national title game. He had 235 catches for 3,965 yards with 46 receiving touchdowns in four seasons without missing a game due to injury.
