DeVonta Smith on size concern: We play football. All the rest is irrelevant.

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Devonta Smith will be one of the smallest players in the NFL when he’s selected by a team in the NFL Draft later this week.

Smith reportedly checked in a 6-feet, 166 pounds when he was evaluated at the NFL Combine medical check in Indianapolis earlier this month.

Smith has shown to be an electric talent in college at Alabama. However, his measurables may leave some teams questioning how well he’ll make the transition to the pros or if he’ll be able to hold up to the punishment of the NFL game.

Smith himself is not concerned.

We play football. We’re in a football business. We’re not weightlifting. We’re not bodybuilders,” Smith said of his size on the NFL Network, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “It’s football. That’s what we’re here for. All the other stuff is irrelevant.”

And Smith is quite good at playing football.

The Heisman Trophy winner had 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior season alone at Alabama. In three years as a regular contributor for the Crimson Tide, he amassed 227 receptions for 3,805 yards and 43 touchdowns.

8 responses to “DeVonta Smith on size concern: We play football. All the rest is irrelevant.

  1. Devonta has played at Alabama against SOME NFL talent in other programs whose bodies are still that of boys and not yet men.

    Every player he lines up against in the NFL will be a professional athlete and a grown man. Grown men will rag doll him at 166lbs when they jam him at the line. He might never get up again if he gets a fast 250lbs linebacker hitting him in the chest over the middle.

  2. He’s right. I get having a slight concern, but how often do scouts obsess over measurables are the expense of considering the body of work on the field? “His arms are too short.” “His big toe is too long.” I would take Smith if he was the best option available and wouldn’t think twice. The guy can play football.

  3. Bang on. You play football until you get snapped like a twig by a 250lb linebacker.

  4. Let’s revisit this after his first year and see if he held up. Right now I’m on the fence.

  5. Drew Brees would have been a good QB if he were a couple inches taller. What ever happened to that guy?

  6. Smith was an amazing college football player. The only reason he’s not considered the #1 WR in the draft is his size. NFL players are unusually large human beings who train to give and take physical punishment. 166 lbs. is worrisome. But I’m sure he’ll put on weight once he’s in his team’s program. He’s not that far off from a reasonable playing weight.

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