Will Two Former Texas Tech Quarterbacks Reunite in Ruston, LA?

The Transfer Portal is a magical door that is a revolving process of players coming and going from one university to the next. In some cases, a player is seeking a better situation after a coaching change. In other cases, a player feels like his opportunities at another university and program might fit his career better. I'm sure there are plenty more cases and nuances around the Transfer Portal, but for Donovan Smith, both of those initial cases make sense.

In the world of free one-time transfers, Donovan Smith has entered the portal for the first time.

Donovan Smith started 8 games against Texas Tech and had two of the biggest wins of the last five years in those games. His first win, against Iowa State, was the Red Raiders' first win over Matt Campbell since he'd arrived in Ames. It also got the Red Raiders bowl eligible. The next big win came against the Texas Longhorns in 2022. A thrilling OT victory that was Donovan's best game as a Red Raider.

The consolation win was obviously the Liberty Bowl against Mississippi State.

By the end of the Red Raiders season, Beheren Morton and Tyler Shough had started the final seven games of the season. By then, Donovan had carved out an excellent role as the red zone rushing ace and Taysom Hill-type weapon.

Back to the opening paragraph, Donovan Smith followed his dad to Lubbock when the elder accepted a role on the Matt Wells staff. Last season, when Matt Wells was fired, Donovan took over as Quarterback for Sonny Cumbie. In the offseason, Cumbie left for Louisiana Tech.

That put Smith in the position of learning a new offense his senior year of high school, a new offense for David Yost in 2020, a new offense in 2021 with Cumbie, and a 2022 offense with Zach Kittley.

Smith was certainly highlighted by Kittley in the Texas game, but that Cumbie offense seemingly fit Smith perfectly. I don't know where Smith intends to transfer, but in my opinion a Texas Tech reunion in Ruston, Louisiana would be best for both parties. Cumbie had four different quarterbacks play significant snaps, and none of them were as dynamic as Donovan Smith would be at that level.