DQ Smith
DQ Smith
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. He has spent four seasons in the South Carolina secondary. The receipt on tape: 8 tackles, 1 TFL against Ole Miss, Week 10, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Shane Beamer.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Shane Beamer
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR06 · Starter
Starter. Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | South Carolina | 64 | 47 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | South Carolina | 37 | 20 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | South Carolina | 73 | 34 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 | -- |
| 2022 | South Carolina | 49 | 38 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 6 | 2 | -- |
| Career | 223 | 139 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 12 | 5 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2025
W 38–10
vs South Carolina State
4 SOLO · 6 TOT
Dominant 28-point win at home against South Carolina State.
How he plays
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
South Carolina
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive back · South Carolina
Returning around him
- 3 South Carolina players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +1 net (25 in / 24 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
South Carolina · Last season: 4-8 (AP #11) · Talent rank #18 · 2026 recruiting class #14
DNA match
Player DNA
Box Safety
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Zion Washington’s 2025 season.
Matches Zion on
Differs from Zion on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Alphonzo Tuputala's senior season at Washington (2023).
Matches Alphonzo on