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FOX analyst Matt Leinart discusses pressures facing Alabama WR DeVonta Smith as Heisman winner

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Ohio State is getting set to face an explosive offense, led by Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

Smith is Alabama’s electric receiver, leading the nation in multiple categories and becoming the first wide receiver since Michigan’s Desmond Howard to capture the Heisman. He will also get the opportunity to play for a national championship against the Buckeyes just six days removed from his Heisman presentation.

On Friday, FOX analyst Matt Leinart discussed the challenges Smith will be facing as a Heisman winner. That is something Leinart knows a few things about, having won the Heisman in 2004 before going on to face Oklahoma in the BCS Championship.

According to Leinart, the pressure of playing with the trophy is a bit different to finish off this college football season:

“This is just a different year. DeVonta just won it this week, and now he’s got a chance to play the national championship game less than a week later,” said Leinart.

Despite that pressure, Leinart still expects Smith to be a top performer and give the Buckeyes plenty of trouble:

“I think you guys would agree, but just watching the humility of this young man, where he came from, the family, all that stuff…this kid just embodies everything you want in what a Heisman winner should be, what a college football player should be, what a young man should be,” explained Leinart. “Judging by his personality and his humility, this will not affect him. He’s going to be a problem for Ohio State’s defense.”

Here’s the full segment of Leinart’s comments:

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.