Joseph Duarte, Staff writer
Donovan Smith, who’s transferring to Houston, helped beat the Cougars with Texas Tech this season in Lubbock.
John E. Moore III/Getty ImagesThe University of Houston’s search for its next quarterback has landed a familiar name.
Former Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith announced Tuesday night he will transfer to UH.
Smith will have three years’ eligibility, giving the Cougars the likely replacement for Clayton Tune as the school moves into the Big 12 in 2023.
Smith made the announcement in a video posted on Instagram, showing wide receiver Nathaniel Dell tossing him a black No. 1 UH jersey and Tune throwing him a football.
UH fans should be familiar with Smith. He led Texas Tech to a 33-30 double-overtime win over the Cougars in Week 2. Smith marched the Red Raiders to a game-tying field goal in the closing minute of regulation and extended the game with a completion on fourth down-and-20 in the first OT.
Smith was among the top targets when the transfer portal officially opened Dec. 5. With Tune set to graduate and redshirt freshman Lucas Coley the only scholarship quarterback on the roster, coach Dana Holgorsen said adding one, and possibly two, quarterbacks was a top priority this offseason.
“We’re in the market,” Holgorsen said in early December. “We’re looking for the best one. And we’re going to go after that one.”
In the past two seasons at Tech, Smith led the Red Raiders to a couple key victories over Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl in 2021 and overtime wins over UH and Texas this season.
In 21 games for the Red Raiders, Smith had 2,686 yards and 19 touchdowns.