Fact or Fiction: DeVonta Smith deserved the Heisman Trophy
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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1. DeVonta Smith deserved the Heisman.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Absolutely fact. DeVonta Smith breaks through as a wide receiver to win the award, which is great and it’s hard to argue with his production. He may or may not be the best player on his own team (Najee Harris, anyone?) but he’s a better choice than Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence and Kyle Trask.
Gorney’s take: FACT. If Smith didn’t win the Heisman with the season he is having, then a receiver could almost never win the award. The Alabama receiver led the nation - not just Power Five schools - in receiving yards by almost 500 and he led college football with 20 receiving touchdowns. Harris should have also been invited to the virtual Heisman ceremony because of his accomplishments, but I have no problem giving it to Smith at all.
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2. Jack Coan is the solution for Notre Dame.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Jack Coan is a serviceable quarterback and a game manager, but that’s what Ian Book is as well. Plus, Book is more mobile. Coan is a good fit for the way Notre Dame plays as a run-first team, but to take the Irish to the next level they need a quarterback who can play from behind. And that’s not Coan.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I have no problem with Coan. He did a nice job in 2019 at Wisconsin and he can manage an offense, but is he the guy to get the Irish over the hump and win a national title? I don’t think so.
I would even say he might not be the most talented quarterback coming to Notre Dame next season as four-star Tyler Buchner is really dynamic. He can run and throw, and should be a perfect fit in South Bend. I guess there’s an opportunity for Coan to win the starting job, but I don’t think it’s a guarantee by any stretch.
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3. A big-name coach will jump to the NFL.
Farrell’s take: FACT. There is a lot of talk about the lack of minority coaches in the NFL, so look for David Shaw from Stanford to perhaps surprise some people and take an NFL job. No matter who it is, I think a big name from college jumps.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Remember when Lincoln Riley was going to the Cowboys? Or Brian Kelly was going to the Eagles or the Giants? Or Shaw was destined to leave for any number of NFL jobs? Yes, there are college coaches who are floating their names out there – probably so they can get more money as ADs try to desperately hold on – but there are a ton of NFL coordinators such as Eric Bieniemy and Arthur Smith who probably get top billing. Plus, if Urban Meyer takes the Jacksonville job, that’s one more off the board. My bet would be Dan Mullen has the best shot at an NFL job, but I’m not sold it happens.