| Houston Cougars–No. 1 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Class |  |
| Major | Architecture |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 27, 2001 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 241 lb (109 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| Bowl games | |
| High school | Frenship (Wolfforth, Texas) |
| |
Donovan Lamont Smith (born October 27, 2001) is an American football quarterback for the Houston Cougars. He previously played college football for Texas Tech.
Smith originally attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, mainly playing as a wide receiver while also serving as the team's backup quarterback. Donovan would transfer to Frenship High School in the Lubbock, Texas suburb of Wolfforth prior to the 2019–20 school year. Smith finished his senior season completing 212-of-328 passes for 3,114 yards with 26 touchdowns and 8 interceptions along with 489 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. [1] Smith finished his senior year with the 32nd-most passing yards in the state of Texas for the 2019 season. [2]
Smith was listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com coming out of high school. He committed to Texas Tech over Nevada, San Diego State, and Utah State. [3]
| Year | GP | Passing | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2017 | 4 | 2 | 6 | .333 | 16 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 | 42.4 | 11 | 80 | 7.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 12 | 3 | 8 | .375 | 83 | 10.4 | 1 | 0 | 116.1 | 9 | 13 | 1.4 | 2 | 49 | 806 | 16.4 | 8 |
| 2019 | 11 | 212 | 328 | .646 | 3,114 | 9.5 | 26 | 8 | 111.8 | 96 | 489 | 5.1 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 1 |
| Career | 27 | 217 | 342 | .635 | 3,213 | 9.4 | 27 | 8 | 110.7 | 116 | 582 | 5.0 | 17 | 50 | 809 | 16.2 | 9 |
Source: [1]
Smith suffered a shoulder injury prior to the 2020 season, and did not appear in any games during the season. He had surgery on his shoulder and returned to practice the following spring. [4]
Smith entered the team's week nine game against Oklahoma in the second quarter after starter Henry Colombi was shaken up on a tackle. [5] Smith made his first collegiate start in the team's week 11 game against Iowa State, with original starter Tyler Shough still recovering from a broken collarbone he suffered in week 4 and Colombi out due to an illness. [6] Smith finished the game 25-of-32 for 322 yards with three touchdowns and one interception as the Red Raiders won 41–38, becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2017. [7] For his performance, Smith was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. [8] Following the game, interim head coach Sonny Cumbie stated that Smith would remain the team's starting quarterback. [9] The Red Raiders were invited to the Liberty Bowl, playing against Mississippi State. Smith finished the game with 252 passing yards and a touchdown along with a rushing touchdown in the 34–7 win and was named the game's MVP. [10] [11]
Entering into the 2022 season, Smith was in a competition for the starting quarterback position against Tyler Shough and Behren Morton. [12] Shough was named the team's week one starter on August 21. [13] Shough started the game against Murray State, but exited the game after the first quarter due to a possible injury and was replaced by Smith. [14] In Week 2, Smith started Texas Tech's game against no. 25 Houston. The Red Raiders jumped out to a 17–3 halftime lead, but the Cougars stormed back in the second half due in part to three interceptions by Smith, including one that was returned 54 yards for a touchdown. Houston took a 20–17 lead with 0:37 left in regulation before Smith led the offense down field to tie the game 20–20 with a 47-yard field goal from Trey Wolff; the Red Raiders would win the game 33–30 in double overtime, with Smith scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 9-yard run. [15] Smith finished with a career-high 350 yards passing and three total touchdowns, two passing and one rushing. For his performance, Smith was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. [16] Two weeks later, against no. 22 Texas, Smith threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns along with 42 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 37–34 overtime victory. For his performance against Texas, Smith was named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week. [17] In the regular season finale against Oklahoma, Smith had both a rushing and receiving touchdown. [18] On December 5, it was announced that Smith would be entering the NCAA transfer portal. [19]
On December 21, 2022, Smith transferred to Houston. [20] [21]
| Season | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Redshirt  | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 11 | 4 | 2−2 | 86 | 140 | 61.4 | 1,182 | 8.4 | 7 | 2 | 146.0 | 57 | 154 | 2.7 | 3 |
| 2022 | 12 | 4 | 2−2 | 146 | 221 | 66.1 | 1,505 | 6.8 | 12 | 8 | 133.9 | 76 | 116 | 1.5 | 7 |
| Houston Cougars | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 12 | 12 | 4−8 | 256 | 397 | 64.5 | 2,801 | 7.1 | 22 | 13 | 135.5 | 138 | 428 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Career | 35 | 20 | 8–12 | 488 | 758 | 64.4 | 5,488 | 7.2 | 41 | 23 | 137.0 | 271 | 698 | 2.6 | 16 |
Source: [22]
Smith's father, DeAndre, was the running backs coach for Texas Tech from 2019 to 2021. [23] As of 2023, he is the running backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. [24]
Brian Jeffrey Symons is a former American football quarterback. Symons played professionally for the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL), the Frankfurt Galaxy and Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe, and the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (AFL). He was originally selected by the Texans in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football for Texas Tech where he was a record setting passer. Symons never played in a regular season NFL game.
Cody Hodges is a philanthropist, motivational speaker, and former professional American football player, playing in the National Football League (NFL), Arena Football League (AFL), and the Arena League 2. Hodges is best known for his one season as the starting quarterback for the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2005 season. As a fifth year Senior, he led the nation in passing and total offense and an appearance in the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic and a 9–3 overall record. He was the 3rd straight fifth year senior to start for Mike Leach and Texas Tech and was also the second of 4 West Texas natives to take the quarterback reins in the Leach era, along with predecessor Sonny Cumbie and successors Taylor Potts and Seth Doege.
The 2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Mike Leach, the Red Raiders compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for third in the Big 12's South Division with Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. While all three teams had a matching 4–4 conference record, Tech had a better overall record of 9–4 compared to the Aggies and Cowboys, who both had a record of 7–6. Texas Tech was invited to the Gator Bowl, where they defeated Virginia. The Red Raiders were ranked No. 22 in the final AP Poll and No. 23 in the final Coaches Poll. The team played home games at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
The 2015 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season as members of the Big 12 Conference. Kliff Kingsbury led the Red Raiders in his third season as the program's fifteenth head coach. The Red Raiders played their home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium. They finished the season 7–6 and 4–5 in Big 12 play to finish in 7th. They were invited to the Texas Bowl where they lost to LSU.
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Mahomes has led the Chiefs to six consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances and four Super Bowl appearances since becoming the team's starting quarterback in 2018. He is one of five quarterbacks in NFL history to win three or more Super Bowls. Mahomes's career accolades through seven seasons in the NFL have earned him widespread praise from sports journalists, and he is considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
The 2017 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Kliff Kingsbury led the Red Raiders in his fifth season as the program's 15th head coach. The Red Raiders played their home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium, and competed as members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 6–7, 3–6 in Big 12 play to finish in eighth place. They were invited to the Birmingham Bowl where they lost to South Florida.
The 2018 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by Kliff Kingsbury in his sixth and final season as the program's 15th head coach. The Red Raiders played their home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium, and competed as members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 5–7 overall, 3–6 in Big 12 play to finish in a 3-way tie for seventh place.
Alan Bowman is an American football quarterback for Oklahoma State. He previously played for Texas Tech from 2018 through 2020, and for Michigan in 2021 and 2022.
The 2019 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by Matt Wells in his first season as the program's 16th head coach. The Red Raiders played their home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium, and competed as members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 2–7 in Big 12 play to finish in ninth place.
Jett Duffey is an American football quarterback. He currently plays for the Hampton Pirates and previously played for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The 2020 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by Matt Wells in his second season as the program's 16th head coach. The Red Raiders played their home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium, and competed as members of the Big 12 Conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the stadium's capacity was reduced to 25%.
Tyler Shough is an American football quarterback for the Louisville Cardinals. Shough began his college career with the Oregon Ducks from 2018 to 2020 before transferring to Texas Tech, where he played from 2021 to 2023.
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Henry Colombi is an American football quarterback. He previously played for the Utah State Aggies, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Marshall Thundering Herd.
The 2021 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Raiders play their home games at the Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, and compete in the Big 12 Conference. With a 41–38 win over Iowa State on November 13, Texas Tech became bowl eligible for the first time since the 2017 season. The team finished the season with an overall record of 7–6 for the Red Raiders' first winning season since 2015.
Chukwuerika "Erik" Ezukanma is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech.
The 2022 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Raiders played their home games at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field in Lubbock, Texas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Joey McGuire.
DeAndre Smith is an American football coach and former player in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts and in France Ligue Élite de Football Américain for the Aix-en-Provence Argonautes in 1993. He is currently the running backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Smith previously served as the running backs coach at Texas Tech from 2019 to 2021. He has coached other college football teams such as Indiana, Northern Illinois, New Mexico and Utah State.
Behren Morton is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
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