DeVonta Smith Gets Real on Jalen Hurts Connection, Iconic Alabama Stories, the Tush Push & More

Devonta Smith: From Alabama Glory to NFL Dominance

In a candid interview on “Close on Sundays,” Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and former Alabama standout DeVonta “Smitty” Smith joined hosts Pat and Terion “TA” Arnold. Smith discussed his seamless transition to the NFL alongside Jalen Hurts, his highly decorated receiver room in college, and the intense focus required to maintain elite performance in the face of media scrutiny and demanding expectations.

The Eagles’ Dynasty & Alabama Connection

Smith and Hurts’ collegiate history has provided a rare level of chemistry in the NFL, which Smith credits for easing his transition to the professional level, especially given his naturally quiet demeanor.

The Hurts Connection: Smith has known Jalen Hurts since high school. He states their connection has only grown, making the move to Philadelphia “a lot easier” since he had a reliable person to talk to and lean on.
The Philadelphia Reality: Smith acknowledges the intense scrutiny in Philadelphia, noting, “It takes a lot to be an athlete in Philly, man. You know, they—it’s rough out here when you ain’t… doing your job.” This pressure informs his off-field behavior, admitting he relies on DoorDash and Instacart and is “not going to no damn store.”
The AJ Brown Dynamic: Smith and AJ Brown form one of the NFL’s most dominant receiving duos. Smith insists their dynamic is built on “always love no matter which way it go.” He admits that their numbers may not always rival others due to the system, but when they do get opportunities, the mindset is, “We got to go make it ‘cuz it might not come back again.” (When asked who calls for the ball first, Smith admits, “Honestly probably say it’s me.”)

Life as a Cornerback: Defensive Teach Tape and the “Island”

Co-host Terion Arnold (TA) gave a life update, focusing on recovering from a shoulder injury and his return after the bye week. He praises the defense and Defensive Coordinator (“Co”) for their work ethic, particularly in their recent game where they won despite critics calling them “depleted.”

Camaraderie and Support: The secondary showed strong unity by wearing BB jerseys to the game in support of a suspended teammate (“Free my boy man”). TA recounts arranging the logistics for this, ordering the jerseys from the Fanatics store at the stadium.
The Coach’s Respect: TA gives high praise to his DC, saying he is respected because he holds himself accountable, admitting “Hey, I said that. I was wrong. That’s on me.” The coach also publicly went to bat for TA, acknowledging that the defense’s success was because “TA had that.”
The Hard Down: TA relates to the difficulty of playing cornerback, acknowledging the “hard down” calls and the difficulty of having a coach who understands the stress of being “out there on the island.”

Flag or No Flag: College Football and NFL Controversy

The hosts discussed recent controversies, both on the field and in college football expectations.

NFL Sideline Dust-Up

The hosts analyze a sideline scuffle between the Texans’ Derek Stingley and the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba, where a referee notably shielded the helmet-less JSN from further harm.

Verdict: No Flag on the overall dust-up. Pat says it was the heat of the moment between two competitors. TA praises the “good sense of awareness with the ref,” noting that a player with a helmet off is vulnerable to serious injury.

Firing Coaches After a Win

The hosts discussed the firing of Florida head coach Billy Napier immediately after a two-point win, and noted Nick Saban’s strong reaction to the firing of James Franklin, calling it “unfair as hell.”

Verdict: Flag. Pat and TA agree that the short tenure of coaches, especially in the SEC, shows that programs only care about “what can you do for me now” and winning games, neglecting the importance of player bonds and program building. TA cites the patience shown to the Detroit Lions’ Coach Campbell who built a successful culture over time.

GOAT Topic: Covering Prime Julio Jones

The hosts tackle the hypothetical challenge of covering Prime Julio Jones—the 6’3″, 220lb, 4.4-second Bama product.

Host
Strategy
Core Philosophy

TA
Quick Jams & Frustration. Focus on frustrating Julio by mixing quick jams and soft coverage. Use safety help (post safety) to bracket outside passes. “You can’t let him get going.”
Eliminate the Explosives. Force the ball out fast and eliminate the deep ball, accepting that plays are going to be made.

Pat
Mental Preparation & Press. You must be mentally prepared. Get up in press coverage, “quick jamming him” and “throwing off the tempo.” Use your leverage and commit.
Accountability. “You got to make a play early… a deflection, the pick, a force fumble.” You must not “lax” or assume the ball won’t come to him.

Devonta Smith: College Days and The Why

Alabama’s Receiver Room

Smith confirmed the legendary status of the Alabama receiver room (himself, Waddle, Jeudy, Ruggs), calling it “crazy.” He notes that Nick Saban would get frustrated, telling the offense to “run the ball, stop passing the ball. Y’all scoring too fast. Defense is tired.”

Welcome to the NFL Moment

Smitty: His moment was in practice against Darius Slay, who “was telling me every route I was running.” This realization showed him the mental acuity required in the league.
TA: His was a joint practice hit from a tackle that left his head “ringing” and his “eyes start twitching.” His coach subbed him out immediately, but the hit was so loud, a teammate thought “somebody had died.”

What’s Next for Smitty? (His “Why”)

When asked what keeps him motivated after achieving the Natty, Heisman, and Super Bowl (the full checklist), Smith’s answer was unexpected:

Pro Bowls: He wants to check off Pro Bowls and All-Pros (and the contract checks that follow).
No “Why” Anymore: Smith states that his original why (taking care of his mom and family) is “already taken care of.” He now simply pushes himself, saying, “I don’t really know what my why is now… I just do it.” He believes it’s not a bad thing as long as he continues to push his limits.

College Football Throwback: Saban’s Wrath and The Catch

Saban’s Ass Chewing: Smith recalls his worst Saban moment, which happened after a player threw a punch at him. Smith jabbed back, leading to Saban “getting on my ass.” The rule: “You can’t throw no punch. I said you let a [expletive] hit you and you just sit there. Not me.”
The National Championship Catch: Smith took the hosts through the game-winning touchdown catch against Georgia, revealing he knew Tua Tagovailoa would throw the hole shot because they ran the play repeatedly in practice. Smith told Tua, “Trust me… just throw it.” When the ball was in the air, his only thought was, “You better not drop this ho.”