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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
Former Auburn QB Bo Nix is learning from legendary signal callers ahead of the 2025 season
Bo Nix met with the Denver Broncos media recently to talk about his meeting with Drew Brees. Former Auburn and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is looking to take his game to another level. Nix had a big rookie season for the Denver Broncos, throwing 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 66%. He helped lead the Broncos to their first playoff appearance since the 2015 season when they won the Super Bowl against another former Auburn quarterback, Cam Newton, and the Carolina Panthers. Nix did that under head coach Sean Payton who knows something about coaching great quarterbacks. That is a category Nix wants to get to. At his previous stop with the New Orleans Saints, Payton got to coach Drew Brees. Nix had the opportunity to meet with Bress over the off-season. Nix talked about how it was fun talking to Brees over the off-season. He also mentioned talking to both Peyton and Eli Manning and picking their brains on what they went through as a player. He was quoted by Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports saying, 'I want to be the best in the world." Nix is talking to legends who, at one point in their careers, were considered the best. Especially talking about Peyton (Manning) and Brees. Adding Eli (Manning) to the list makes five championships among the three. Brees played 15 seasons for the New Orleans Saints, and all were under Payton as his head coach. During that time Brees threw for 68,010 yards and 491 touchdowns. The Saints posted a record of 142-86 record, and they were the champions for the 2009 season. It is unknown if Nix will have a career like Brees, but he is off to a good start after year one. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Phillip on Twitter @PJordanSEC
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
Alabama wide receiver named to preseason watch list for top college football award
Per an announcement Monday afternoon, Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Maxwell Award. The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football, and is an honor that the Crimson Tide have received five times before. Those winners were A.J. McCarron (2013), Derrick Henry (2015), Tua Tagovailoa (2018), DeVonta Smith (2020), and Bryce Young (2021). A sophomore, Williams enters the 2025 season coming off a stellar freshman campaign in which he received honors such as First Team All-SEC and Freshman All-America. Across 13 games, Williams hauled in 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns, while also rushing for 48 yards and two more scores. Williams also played a role on special teams, returning 12 punts for 120 yards, as well as two kicks for 14 yards. A player who could be a sleeper candidate for the Heisman Trophy, is this yet another sign that the 2025 season is shaping up to be a massive one for Alabama's star wide receiver? Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
Eagles legend compares Saquon Barkley to the greatest athlete who ever lived
A beloved Eagles legend drops a jaw-dropping comparison involving Bo Jackson and Saquon Barkley Sometimes, we use words and phrases so frequently that they lose their impact, especially when they could be more effectively applied to specific situations. Philadelphia Eagles fans are no exception to this trend. We often call everyone a "genius" and refer to them as "the G.O.A.T." (Greatest of All Time), but in reality, if that title truly fit, we wouldn't be able to bestow it on everyone. We agree with you and acknowledge legends like Brian Dawkins and Jason Kelce; they're the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.s). Bo Jackson could have also been considered the G.O.A.T., and he is certainly respected as one of the greatest all-around athletes to ever grace the planet. Brian Westbrook mentions Saquon Barkley in the same class as Bo Jackson Those of you who are a little older will appreciate the following statement more than the youngsters, but can you imagine how many times Bo Jackson would have broken the internet had he played during the current social media age? All of you who were born in the 90s have an assignment. Call mom and dad. Ask them about Nike's 'Bo Knows' campaign, ask them about the near-Herculean and superhuman stuff he did while making everything he did look routine. Bo Jackson was a rare blend of speed and power. Had his body not failed him, he might have earned Hall of Fame honors in the National Football League and Major League Baseball. Picture Saquon Barkley mixed with your favorite elite baseball player, but don't take our word for it. Eagles legend Brian Westbrook was recently a guest on the Ross Tucker Podcast. All you have to do is ask him. Well, he isn't lying. There isn't anything left to add, but there's one difference here. Saquon Barkley has enjoyed a longer career than Bo Jackson. Hopefully, his good fortune continues because as lovers of Eagles football, none of us wants to see his ride in Eagles green end until he decides he's ready to call it a career.
