DeVonta Smith made his first reception as an NFL wideout early in the second quarter of the Eagles‘ Thursday night preseason game. It was just the beginning of an impressive showing from the rising star.
Smith’s elite route-running ability was on full display this evening. He got his night going early in the second quarter when he used a shifty release to avoid a jam at the line of scrimmage, used his speed to gain separation and caught a pass in the middle of the Patriots’ soft zone to pick up a few yards.
Later in the second quarter, Smith put a Patriots’ defender on ice. The 2020-21 Heisman winner broke his route sharp inside before planting his feet and cutting to the outside and gaining several yards of separation in the blink of an eye. Joe Flacco got the ball out in a hurry and let Smith do the rest as he was able to pick up an easy first down before running out of bounds.
If Smith keeps this up, he’s going to put on a highlight mixtape by the end of his rookie season.
DeVonta Smith is teaching lessons 🔥
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 20, 2021
DeVonta Smith’s speed and route-running ability is what had scouts excited during his pre-NFL Draft evaluation. It looks like he’s starting to live up to expectations.
The former Alabama star should put up impressive numbers this upcoming season. The Eagles don’t have many proven options in the passing game. Smith could make a name for himself early on during the 2021 season if he keeps making highlight plays.
You can watch the rest of Smith’s preseason and Eagles debut right now on NFL Network.
The post Look: This DeVonta Smith Route Is Going Viral appeared first on The Spun.
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