When asked about any surprising players on the University of Houston offense, quarterback Donovan Smith takes a moment to think, similar to how he reads the defense at the line, before confidently responding. “The first players that come to mind are our freshmen,” Smith shares with PaperCity. “We have two freshmen wide receivers, Koby Young and JayShon Ridgle, who are both performing very well. They’ve been impressive.
“They definitely have a lot of potential. Like most freshmen, they’re still adjusting to college football and learning the plays, but I believe they’ll become exceptional.”
Smith sees both Young and Ridgle as key contributors this season. With uncertainties surrounding Houston’s receiving group after the departure of their two top pass catchers—Matthew Golden (transferred to the University of Texas) and Sam Brown (transferred to Miami)—Smith remains optimistic. In fact, the senior QB appears genuinely excited about the receivers he’ll be working with and the potential of the offense under Willie Fritz and Kevin Barbay.
In a college football landscape where top players often transfer following a coaching change, Donovan Smith tells PaperCity that he quickly decided to stay at the University of Houston with Coach Fritz.
“I’m not really into getting up and leaving just when shit hits the fan or something like that,” Smith says. “I just took a second to analyze the coaches, to decide if I liked them or not. I just felt like they were the perfect fit. They were big family guys. They were very vocal about what they wanted to do. What the expectations are for us.
“So I thought that was the perfect fit for me.”
Smith is putting in every effort to get Houston’s receivers aligned, working with both underrated returning talent like Joseph Manjack and highly regarded four-star recruit Koby Young from New Orleans, who had offers from Alabama, LSU, and UT. For Smith, spending time with his receivers is crucial.
“I’m just trying to do things off the field,” Smith explains. “Even if it’s just playing games together. We’ve been playing (Call of Duty) Warzone, and now that NCAA (the EA Sports college football video game) is out, everyone is getting into that.”
So Donovan makes it a point to play video games with his UH teammates. He’s also made it clear to the Cougar receivers that they should be prepared to stay after practice frequently. This time isn’t just for extra throwing to build timing, but also to review and repeat plays that didn’t go well during practice.
During the team’s three-day pre-camp media days, several of Smith’s Houston teammates noted the noticeable improvement in the starting quarterback compared to last season, which was his first at UH.
“Donovan has improved a lot,” senior right guard Tank Jenkins told PaperCity. “His mindset has shifted significantly since last year. He’s quicker, stronger, and his skill set is more varied. He’s eager to show what he can do. I’m excited to block for him.”
“I’m not really into getting up and leaving just when shit hits the fan or something like that. I just took a second to analyze the coaches, to decide if I liked them or not. I just felt like they were the perfect fit. They were big family guys. They were very vocal about what they wanted to do. What the expectations are for us.” — UH quarterback Donovan Smith
The Donovan Smith Equation
For UH football to have any chance of surprising this season, Smith needs to elevate his game as a quarterback. Expectations are low in Willie Fritz’s first season of reshaping the program; Las Vegas oddsmakers have set the Cougars’ win total at four, and the preseason media poll has them finishing 15th out of 16 teams in the Big 12. However, an experienced dual-threat quarterback on a mission could change that dynamic.
Standing at 6-foot-5, Smith had surgery on his throwing shoulder’s labrum after last season, managing to play through the pain without complaint during the final stretch. Although this sidelined him from the on-field portion of spring practices, he still found ways to improve. He often stood behind the other quarterbacks during offensive drills, mentally analyzing the defenses and going through his reads.
“One thing I wanted to focus on this offseason was improving my skills in the film room,” Smith explains. “Taking a step back during spring allowed me to see the bigger picture. Standing behind the quarterback helped me observe the defenses and anticipate their movements.
“I spent the spring perfecting plays on the board, which has been incredibly beneficial. Now I can play instinctively without overthinking.”
Smith appreciates how Barbay, the former Appalachian State offensive strategist, and quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell encourage him to engage at the whiteboard and diagram plays.
Donovan Smith’s growing confidence at the play board comes hand in hand with increased responsibilities and trust in the Fritz and Barbay offense. This season, Houston’s quarterback will have the freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage whenever he identifies a need or sees an opportunity.
“I think it’s a perfect fit for my style of play,” says Smith about the new offense. “I can operate under center when necessary, move in and out of the pocket, adjust protections, and change plays when needed. It aligns perfectly with my strengths and sets me up well for the next level.”
An elevated performance from Donovan Smith could significantly impact the UH football team.
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