During his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide, wide receiver DeVonta Smith has worked with some talented quarterbacks such as Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, who are now both in the NFL. But the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has singled out his most recent quarterback in Mac Jones for praise as the 2021 NFL Draft approaches.
Smith in particular complimented Jones’ in-game smarts and IQ, according to NFL Network’s James Palmer.
DeVonta Smith told me that Mac Jones is “just different” with how smart he is and his FB IQ
“There’s some stuff, he’ll just throw it out there in your face. Telling some one ‘I know you’re coming on a blitz’. Then he’ll tell me to go and do this … bro he’s just different."
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) April 1, 2021
It wasn’t the first time that the 22-year-old praised Jones, as he even said last month that he preferred him as a signal-caller over Tagovailoa, who now plays for the Miami Dolphins. It made sense for Smith to pick his most recent quarterback, as it was Jones who helped him achieve a historic 2020 season that saw him become the first wide receiver to take home the Heisman trophy since 1991.
With Jones throwing him passes, Smith finished the Crimson Tide’s undefeated season with 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. The 22-year-old Jones, meanwhile, finished the year by completing 77.4% of his passes for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
The Class of 2021 for the upcoming NFL Draft features several talented quarterbacks, such as Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, and BYU’s Zach Wilson. But Jones has also proven himself as a talented quarterback during his time in Alabama and is projected to be a first-round pick along with Smith.
Even though he may not generate the same amount of buzz as Lawrence or Wilson, Jones has someone in Smith who believes that his smarts and instinct as a quarterback will make him stand out at the pro level as both players await this month's NFL Draft.
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