Columbia has always been a football town, but the story of DQ Smith South Carolina safety and hometown hero is one of those rare arcs that actually lived up to the local hype. You know how it usually goes. A high school star dominates at one position, gets a handful of offers, and then disappears into the depth chart of a major program.
That didn’t happen here.
DeQuandre "DQ" Smith didn't just play for the Gamecocks; he basically became the floor of the defense. If you watched any South Carolina football between 2022 and 2025, you saw number 1. You saw him flying from the secondary to stick a running back in the gap or dropping into a deep half to bait a quarterback into a bad throw.
Honestly, the transition he made is the kind of thing coaches dream about but rarely pull off so smoothly.
The Quarterback Who Became a Predator
Back at Spring Valley High School, Smith was "The Guy." He was a dual-threat quarterback, a local legend who put up over 2,400 total yards as a senior. He had 14 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2021. Georgia Southern wanted him to keep the ball in his hands under center.
But Shane Beamer and the South Carolina staff saw something else.
They saw a 6-foot-1, 210-pound athlete with "quarterback eyes" who could diagnose a play before it even started. They wanted him in the secondary. Transitioning from QB to safety isn't just about learning how to tackle; it’s about a total shift in mindset. You go from being the prey—the guy everyone is trying to hit—to being the predator.
It worked. Fast.
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Smith didn't just "sit and learn." He played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2022, starting the final 11. Most freshmen are still trying to find the dining hall, but DQ was out there recording 54 tackles and a massive 47-yard pick-six against Notre Dame in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
Breaking Down the dq smith south carolina Impact
If you look at the raw numbers, they're impressive, but they don't tell the full story of his durability. 48 career games. 45 starts. That is a level of consistency that is almost unheard of in the modern SEC, where the transfer portal and injuries usually rotate rosters like a revolving door.
- Tackling Machine: He finished his career with 228 total tackles.
- Ball Hawk: Five interceptions and 16 pass deflections.
- Special Teams Ace: He was a two-time winner of the Jim Carlen Special Teams Player of the Spring.
People forget he scored two touchdowns as a freshman. One was that interception against the Irish, but the other was a 26-yard return on a blocked punt against Georgia State. He just had a knack for being near the ball when things happened.
2023 was probably his statistical peak. He notched 73 tackles, which ranked 23rd in the entire SEC. Think about that. A sophomore safety out-tackling half the linebackers in the toughest conference in the country. He had double-digit tackle games against North Carolina (11) and Tennessee (12).
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The Final Year and the Move to the NFL
By the time the 2025 season rolled around, Smith was the "old man" in the room. He was the vocal leader. With so many starters leaving for the NFL after the 2024 campaign, DQ stayed to anchor a young secondary. He shared the South Carolina Spirit Award for the defense in the spring of 2025, which basically tells you everything you need to know about his locker room presence.
He started 11 games in his final season, missing only the Missouri game with an injury. He led the team with 64 tackles. Even when the team struggled to find its rhythm, Smith was the constant.
On December 25, 2025, Smith made it official. He declared for the NFL Draft.
It wasn't a surprise, really. He had used up his four years of eligibility. He graduated in December 2025 with a degree in services management. He checked every box.
Why NFL Scouts Are Watching Him Closely
Drafting a safety is always a gamble on "football IQ." Scouts love Smith because of that quarterback background. He understands route concepts. He knows what a QB is looking at when they try to move a safety with their eyes.
He’s not just a "box safety" who hits people, though he can definitely do that. He’s a guy who can play nickel, free, or strong safety. That versatility is gold in a league that is increasingly moving toward positionless defense.
Basically, you're getting a guy who has 45 starts of SEC experience. You can't coach that. You can't simulate it. You either have it or you don't.
What’s Next for DQ Smith?
The next few months are a whirlwind. The Hula Bowl invite was just the start. Then comes the training, the Pro Day in Columbia, and the endless meetings with defensive coordinators who want to know if he can still throw a post route (just in case of a fake punt).
If you’re looking to follow the next stage of his career, pay attention to the NFL Scouting Combine and his lateral agility drills. That's usually the one area where "converted" safeties have to prove they have the twitch to stay with elite NFL slot receivers.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Tape: If you’re an NFL fan, go back and watch the 2022 Gator Bowl or the 2024 Alabama game. You’ll see him play "downhill" better than almost any safety in the class.
- Follow the Pro Day: Keep an eye on the South Carolina Pro Day stats in March. His 40-time will be the make-or-break number for his draft stock.
- Support Local: DQ is a Columbia native through and through. Whether he's a third-round pick or a priority free agent, he's the kind of guy who usually finds a way to stick on a roster for a decade because of his special teams value and intelligence.