DQ Smith looks back on decision to play DB and pick South Carolina
South Carolina sophomore DQ Smith spent most of his high school career with designs of playing quarterback in college.
“I was laser focused on being a quarterback,” Smith said during a recent Garnet Trust Hour appearance on 107.5 The Game. “That’s what I wanted to be. That’s what my heart was. You know, that’s what people around me, during that time, were telling me I was. I was sticking to that and I was really believing that. But as time went on, I was really gathering my options more, really coming back, thinking about this, my future more. So, you know, that’s where South Carolina came into play.”
Smith, a standout quarterback at nearby Spring Valley High School, had options to play quarterback in college.
But the Gamecocks, and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, had remained in contact about the opportunity to play defensive back in the SEC.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Smith remembers the exact moment his mind started to change on his future plans.
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“It was when South Carolina played North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl,” Smith said. “It started switching and I told my dad, I was like, yeah, I want to play DB now. Just seeing the guys above me, Darius Rush and RJ (Roderick) and all those guys, you know, I really wanted to play DB from that game forward. Just seeing the culture South Carolina had as well. And I know with Coach Gray being here, he’s a great coach, and he can transform me into a DB.”
That appears to be an excellent change of heart.
Was the decision more about the position or more about the chance to play for his hometown team? Both were a factor.
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“It was kind of both, you know, the culture and then my body type as well,” Smith said. “I was a very strong guy coming out of high school and just the coaching staff as well. Coach Gray, I know he’s one of the best and he’s coaching in my hometown, so why not give it a shot?”
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Smith not only made an easy transition to DB, he quickly found the field for a South Carolina secondary that was looking for contributors.
As a freshman, Smith played in all 13 games, starting the final 11 contests.
Smith earned CFN Freshman All-American third-team honors after collecting 54 tackles including 40 solo stops and two interceptions and two touchdowns.
“At quarterback, you’re taking control of the offense,” Smith said. “But so at safety, it’s kind of the same thing. So on offense, I know a lot of schemes a lot of teams like to run on. So coming to defense, they line up in a certain formation, I know what I can expect out of this formation. So that just comes with me playing quarterback, having that knowledge. So it was a pretty easy transition for me.”
