the Gamecocks’ durable last-line enforcer with real ball skills
In the 2025 season, DQ Smith remained a steady, high-volume starter for South Carolina, finishing with 64 tackles and 1 interception while bringing four-year starter reliability and leadership energy to the back end[9][14]. His calling card is physicality: he diagnoses quickly, tackles cleanly in space, and has enough ball production over his career to make offenses pay when they test him deep[1][10]. The fit is clear for teams needing a tough, experienced DB who raises the floor of a secondary, even if he’s more steady detonator than flashy highlight machine[12][14].
