alabama-2018 college football favorites Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban celebrates with his team after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs to win the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Two years ago last month, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart accepted Georgia’s offer to become the Bulldogs’ next head football coach. One month later, 4-star wide receiver recruit Devonta Smith decommitted from Georgia and began fielding offers from other schools. He took several visits to Alabama, and last February he committed to become part of the Crimson Tide’s 2017 recruiting class.

And then Monday night, in the College Football Playoff National Championship, Smith caught the game-winning pass from fellow freshman Tua Tagovailoa to give the school he wound up at an overtime victory over the one he spurned.


As Smith explained after Monday’s game, he initially committed to Georgia because of then-coach Mark Richt. When Smart took over, the new coach and his staff reportedly paid him no attention, causing him to re-open his recruitment. Via the New York Post:

“I committed because Coach Richt was there,” Smith said in the jubilant locker room. “When he left, I didn’t know what they were going to do, who would be the wide receivers coach. So I decommitted.”

Smith had committed to Georgia before Richt was replaced by Kirby Smart. Smart and his staff never reached out to Smith, a speedy four-star receiver.

We probably can’t blame Smart too much here. When a new coach takes over, he has his own priorities and his own favored recruits. Sometimes good players slip through the cracks. Sometimes those good players are fleet-footed receivers who grade out as the No. 62 player in their class. And sometimes they wind up signing with a conference rival.

Smith caught only eight passes for 160 yards this season for Alabama, but he sure made the last one count. And thus this tweet will forever live in infamy throughout the state of Georgia.

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.