Smith sat out spring ball and was on a pitch count in fall camp, but the second-year UH starter is ready to roll Saturday.
The Houston Cougars are ready to launch a new era as first-year head coach Willie Fritz makes his highly anticipated debut in red and white.
Fritz isn’t the only new addition on campus. TDECU Stadium unveiled a 7,200-square-foot video board, ranking 11th in the country and 2nd in the Big 12. Other renovations have also been made, with only five players who started at least four games returning atop the depth chart for 2024.
However, one thing remains constant on the roster: Quarterback Donovan Smith started all 12 games last season and continues in his role despite the coaching changes and new dynamics around him. After his first year as a full starter, it’s been a challenging offseason for Smith, who had shoulder surgery due to a torn labrum and missed spring football.
The surgery was successful, his shoulder is healed, and the Las Vegas native is now ready for the opener against the UNLV Rebels in his hometown.
“I feel great,” Smith said. “Going through fall camp has been amazing. It started off a bit sore, but everything feels better than last year. I’m really confident in my arm and the plays.”
Smith skipped the April spring game, allowing Louisiana transfer Zeon Chriss to take the QB1 role. As fall camp started, Smith gradually returned, initially placed on a pitch count. However, he’s ready for his 13th start as a Cougar on Saturday.
“He’s 100 percent,” Fritz said. “We put him on a pitch count because he’s a competitor. His surgery was very successful, and he’s doing everything we ask and more.”
This was Fritz’s first offseason with the experienced quarterback, and he quickly recognized Smith’s leadership style, especially during the spring workouts he missed, mentoring the other quarterbacks instead.
“He was as advertised,” Fritz noted. “He’s a great leader with positive body language. His presence is always uplifting. After the first week of preseason camp, you could see he was all in.”
Smith has “no second thoughts” about starting Saturday. At 6’5” and 235 pounds, he’s not one to shy away from contact; in fact, he embraces it. Taking that first hit energizes him and gets him in the zone.
“It’s not something you want to avoid; you want to feel it,” Smith explained. “When someone hits me, it fires me up. I’m ready to go, and I know I’m a veteran now.”
Due to high demand, TDECU Stadium is increasing the number of student tickets available for Saturday night’s game under the lights. The excitement for the Willie Fritz era is palpable across the fourth-largest city in the U.S. In his second year, Smith is eager to play in front of an energized home crowd, aiming to lead Houston to new heights in its second season in the Big 12.
“Having a new coaching staff, we’re really excited,” Smith said. “We want fans to come out and support us. Their energy helps us when we’re tired. Hearing ‘Let’s go Coogs!’ makes us want to play harder for everyone who comes to watch us.”
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