Latest news with #DeVontaSmith
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
DeVonta Smith and former Alabama players introduce a new wrinkle to the Eagles' practice
None of us will ever forget the adrenaline rush that came with the Philadelphia Eagles' announcement of DeVonta Smith's selection. We'll never forget where we were when he was on the receiving end of the "dagger" Jalen Hurts threw during Super Bowl 59. It has been more than seven years since Tua Tagovailoa hit him on 2nd and 26 during overtime of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. He's a little older now. He isn't much bigger. Our Skinny Batman... Our Slim Reaper... He keeps chugging along. It's hard to believe that DeVonta Smith enters year five as an Eagle. We've come a long way. His first reception doubled as his first TD vs. the Atlanta Falcons in the same Mercedes Benz Stadium in which he caught that pass from Tagovailoa years earlier. He set Philadelphia's franchise rookie record for receiving yards (916). He has won a Super Bowl, catching the aforementioned "Dagger" in his home state of Louisiana, Fast forward to the present, and Smith, now one of the elder statesmen on offense, is adding a helping hand wherever he can. Recently, a conversation about contested catches with head coach Nick Sirianni led to the introduction of a new drill he once ran as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide while terrorizing the college football landscape en route to his second CFP National Championship and the Heisman Trophy. Coach Sirianni spoke about this before the Eagles took the field for their fourth training camp practice since returning to the NovaCare Complex. The next time you see Smith 'Moss' somebody. Remember, he works hard to be as good as and as talented as he is. As of this story's release, he's recovering from some tightness in his back, so he sat out of the aforementioned fourth training camp workout. Fear not. His absence was precautionary. All signs point to him being on the field and present for the regular-season Week 1 opener vs. the Dallas Cowboys. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Philadelphia Crimson Tide connection sparks new drill at Eagles camp
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
DeVonta Smith and former Alabama players introduce a new wrinkle to the Eagles' practice
DeVonta Smith and former Alabama players introduce a new wrinkle to the Eagles' practice None of us will ever forget the adrenaline rush that came with the Philadelphia Eagles' announcement of DeVonta Smith's selection. We'll never forget where we were when he was on the receiving end of the "dagger" Jalen Hurts threw during Super Bowl 59. It has been more than seven years since Tua Tagovailoa hit him on 2nd and 26 during overtime of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. He's a little older now. He isn't much bigger. Our Skinny Batman... Our Slim Reaper... He keeps chugging along. It's hard to believe that DeVonta Smith enters year five as an Eagle. We've come a long way. His first reception doubled as his first TD vs. the Atlanta Falcons in the same Mercedes Benz Stadium in which he caught that pass from Tagovailoa years earlier. He set Philadelphia's franchise rookie record for receiving yards (916). He has won a Super Bowl, catching the aforementioned "Dagger" in his home state of Louisiana, Fast forward to the present, and Smith, now one of the elder statesmen on offense, is adding a helping hand wherever he can. Recently, a conversation about contested catches with head coach Nick Sirianni led to the introduction of a new drill he once ran as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide while terrorizing the college football landscape en route to his second CFP National Championship and the Heisman Trophy. Coach Sirianni spoke about this before the Eagles took the field for their fourth training camp practice since returning to the NovaCare Complex. The next time you see Smith 'Moss' somebody. Remember, he works hard to be as good as and as talented as he is. As of this story's release, he's recovering from some tightness in his back, so he sat out of the aforementioned fourth training camp workout. Fear not. His absence was precautionary. All signs point to him being on the field and present for the regular-season Week 1 opener vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Right guard competition, Jahan Dotson's role and other notes from Philadelphia Eagles training camp
The Philadelphia Eagles were in shorts and shells again Monday during Day 4 of training camp at the NovaCare Complex. The Birds are expected to break out the full pads for practice Tuesday. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was back on the field Monday after missing the first few days with a shoulder injury. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell and offensive linemen Kenyon Green and Cam Jurgens were also limited participants. "He'll be out there today, so we're not going to get too much into injuries or anything like that. But he'll be out there today," head coach Nick Sirianni said of Carter before practice. "Looking forward to having him out there today." Wide receiver DeVonta Smith did not practice due to back tightness. Rookie safety Andrew Mukuba also didn't practice Monday with a shoulder injury. Sirianni said he wouldn't discuss injuries too much at this point in training camp. The Eagles are returning 10 of 11 starters after right guard Mekhi Becton left in free agency. One of the biggest battles entering camp for the Super Bowl LIX champions was at right guard, but so far, it appears to be a one-man race. Tyler Steen, a 2023 third-round pick out of Alabama, has taken first-team reps at right guard every day. "I think I grew more last year than I did in my rookie year," Steen said. "I think getting the opportunity to go in there and play and get some experience and getting more and more comfortable at guard really helped me gain some confidence going into this year." Steen entered training camp as the presumptive favorite to start at right guard, but an injury opened the door for Becton. The 25-year-old started two games last season. Sirianni was asked Monday if the Eagles planned to open up competition in camp. "Everything's a competition. We're evaluating the twos and the threes," Sirianni said. "As of right now, it's the same way we're evaluating the ones, and we'll see. Tyler's done a nice job so far and has worked in there with the ones through OTAs, and as training camp has started right here. But we've got a lot of good pieces there." Jahan Dotson had just 19 catches for 216 yards in 17 regular-season games last season, after the Eagles acquired him from the Washington Commanders in an August trade. Dotson did have an impact in the playoffs, catching a TD against the Green Bay Packers and making a play early in the Birds' Super Bowl LIX win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Dotson, 25, was asked about his role in the Eagles' offseason this season. He said his versatility is his biggest asset. "I'm kind of the guy who can pretty much play everywhere, going back to me coming in late last year and kind of learning offense on the fly and not missing a beat. That was a big thing for me," Dotson said. "I feel like I'm a guy you can throw me anywhere, X, Y, Z, F, I'm going to do my job. I'm going to make it happen. That's what the team has looked at me for. Being kind of a spark plug if we need a play. I'm going to make the most of my opportunities when they come my way." The Penn State product enters camp as the Eagles' likely No. 3 wideout. The Eagles signed Terrace Marshall Jr. to a one-year deal, and the former second-round pick could push Dotson on the depth chart in training Dougherty contributed to this report.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Heisman Trophy odds: Four value bets, including Texas' Arch Manning
Few individual awards in sports generate as much buzz as college football's Heisman Trophy. With that attention comes strong opinions, heated debates and bold predictions. While the trophy is theoretically awarded to the "best player in college football," recent history shows it's far from a purely meritocratic race. Last season, the award was rightfully given to Colorado's Travis Hunter, the wide receiver/cornerback who played on both sides of the ball and logged an astonishing 1,443 snaps in just 12 games. Runner-up Ashton Jeanty became the first running back in a decade to earn a Heisman invitation, but he had to put up a herculean effort to get there — finishing second in single-season rushing yards all time, behind only Barry Sanders (1988), a Heisman winner himself. The recent success of skill-position players has sparked optimism for non-quarterbacks — but let's not forget: This is still a quarterback award. Let's look at data from the last 20 years to understand what it really takes to win the Heisman and identify a few players whom I think have betting value for the award. The Heisman prototype: What the data shows Since 2005, 15 of the 20 Heisman winners (75%) have been quarterbacks, and only three running backs and one wide receiver (DeVonta Smith in 2020) have won. The lone outlier is Hunter, an incredibly rare two-way star. Everyone knows this is a QB award, but let's poke a bit deeper. Exposure matters for media and voters: A striking 75% of Heisman winners over the past 20 years played for schools in the Central Time Zone. Why? Prime viewing hours, particularly for East Coast voters, tilt media attention — and thus Heisman hype — toward games that air earlier in the evening. Team success is also critical: Only five winners in the last 20 years came from teams with three or more losses, and the average number of losses among Heisman winners is just 1.25. Simply put: If your team isn't winning, you're not winning the Heisman. With those caveats in mind, here are four value bets for the 2025 Heisman Trophy: Avery Johnson, QB, Kansas State Wildcats (40-1 at BetMGM) After a season full of what-ifs, Johnson was my first Heisman ticket of the offseason. As a sophomore, the dual-threat QB turned heads, and oddsmakers took notice — moving his Heisman odds to 20-1 midseason, the sixth best in the country. A couple of nagging injuries — concussions, ankle sprains — derailed his season, though, and he finished with the 42nd-best QBR in the nation. Now healthy, he returns to a Kansas State team favored to win the Big 12 and stacked with explosive talent. There's some concern about national exposure (K-State sometimes draws late time slots), but Johnson's 37-inch vertical and 4.5 speed scream highlight-reel potential. An early-season breakout — Week 1 vs. Iowa State on ESPN, perhaps — could push him into the national spotlight quickly. This will be Johnson's second season as 'the guy' after generating buzz as the running QB behind Will Howard in his freshman year. With more experience, a clean bill of health and a long-shot price, he's a smart value play. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish (40-1) Notre Dame doesn't play in a conference championship, but its independent schedule — and tough early slate — could help Carr. The Irish face two major early tests: Week 1 vs. Miami and Week 3 against a top-10 Texas A&M team. Both games offer national exposure and early opportunities to make a statement. If Carr hits the ground running, he'll build a strong resume, but if the Irish do stumble, head coach Marcus Freeman may be forced to open up the offense to keep his team's playoff hopes alive. The rest of the schedule softens significantly, with Notre Dame projected as a two-touchdown favorite in nearly every remaining game. Either the Irish win big from the jump, or they run up the score week after week. Both scenarios are Carr-friendly. Arch Manning, QB, Texas Longhorns (+600) No Heisman conversation is complete without mentioning Manning. Yes, the last name draws attention, but there are reasons beyond legacy to take him seriously. Texas now plays in the SEC, which boasts a $3 billion, 10-year media deal with ESPN/ABC — meaning nonstop exposure. Manning will compete with other SEC QBs like LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Florida's DJ Lagway, but Texas is an underdog in only two games this season, giving Manning an easier path to success. He's not just a media magnet — he can play. Manning filled in multiple times for Quinn Ewers-led offenses and posted a near 68% completion rate, while rushing for two touchdowns on just 18 attempts in SEC play. Factor in the SEC platform, national attention and dual-threat ability, and he's the chalk pick for a reason at sportsbooks. Behren Morton, QB, Texas Tech Red Raiders (250-1) When building your dream Heisman long shot, many variables matter — TV exposure, team success, talent — but the most important is opportunity. Enter Morton. The Red Raiders ranked sixth nationally in pass attempts per game (41.2) last season, but Morton played the year with a grade 3 AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Imagine this pass-heavy offense with a healthy quarterback. Tech is projected to win close to nine games, and if Morton is slinging it 45-plus times per week with efficiency, he could post eye-popping numbers early. At 250-1, he's worth a small dart throw in any Heisman betting portfolio.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eagles' DeVonta Smith A Contract Bargain As Receivers' Salaries Skyrocket
Eagles' DeVonta Smith A Contract Bargain As Receivers' Salaries Skyrocket originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles have created a legacy in many ways, including for being an organization often willing to pay its young stars on the come. Philadelphia's philosophy focuses on extending players before they have to, which can be a dice roll but can also allow them to remain flexible in building their roster with long-term saving of elbow room under the cap. Extensions to stars like A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts have allowed the Eagles to remain among the more dominant teams in the league. Along the way, as time passes, those contracts – so eye-popping when initially announced – move from being massive and lucrative long-term commitments to being relative bargains. That is, if the team is right about the player's star potential. It's a game of "Keeping Up with the Joneses,'' in a sense; the NFL offseason always features the paying of the next great player a bit more than the highest-paid star the year before. A great example of how this has worked for the Eagles comes not just from an All-Pro like Brown (making $32 million APY) but also from his running mate, DeVonta Smith. Smith's current contract pales in comparison to the latest receiver to sign a long-term extension. New York Jets wideout Garrett Wilson signed a four-year extension Monday afternoon worth an average annual salary of $32.5 million. Wilson became the fifth-highest-paid receiver in the game with his contract. And relative to his contract? The Eagles figure to be appreciative of Smith than ever better. The Heisman Trophy winner Smith was a first-round pick by the team back in 2021 and has enjoyed the best start to a receiver in team history. He has recorded over 300 receptions with over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Following the 2023 season, Smith signed a three-year extension worth just $75 million. The average annual salary of just $25 million may have been a milestone mark a few years ago, but that changed quickly in just the last calendar season. Suddenly, his contract ranks at just 13th in the league. With Wilson's extension, the deal highlights some of the players now at his position who produce similar numbers but cost millions less. Smith is that player for the Eagles. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
