Virginia Tech’s secondary got a late boost before Saturday’s opener against VMI, with South Carolina defensive back DQ Smith joining the Hokies through the transfer portal.
247Sports first reported the move and said Smith is expected to practice with Virginia Tech on Tuesday. The program has not officially confirmed the addition, but Smith is listed in the university’s database as a student.
Smith, whose full name is DeQuandre, arrives with plenty of experience. He spent the last four seasons as a starter at South Carolina under Shane Beamer and logged 3,107 snaps over that stretch, according to PFF. In that span, he produced 228 tackles, five interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Last season, Smith played 732 snaps and posted PFF marks of 68.0 overall, 64.2 against the run, 74.6 in tackling and 69.9 in coverage. He worked mostly as a strong safety for defensive backs coach - and Hokie - Torrian Gray.
His top game in 2025 came in the opener against Virginia Tech in Atlanta, when he finished with seven tackles and graded out at 73.4 overall, 78.6 in run defense, 85.2 in tackling and 68.1 in coverage. Smith also tied for the South Carolina team lead with 64 tackles last year and was named a captain in three games.
The Columbia, S.C., native had his best tackling season in 2023, when he recorded 73. He broke through in 2022 as a Third Team Freshman All-American, splitting time between nickel and safety while picking off two passes in eight games. He also scored twice that season, including a 26-yard blocked punt return against Georgia State.
For Virginia Tech, the fit is obvious. Safety is a thin spot on the roster, and Smith gives the Hokies a much-needed veteran body behind presumed starters Quentin Reddish, a redshirt sophomore, and Tyson Flowers, a redshirt senior captain.
Eligibility is the only real question, and for now, Smith appears to be good to go. He was a plaintiff in Pyburn v.
NCAA in Baton Rouge, La., where a temporary restraining order was granted on Aug. 19.
The case was originally set for an injunction hearing on Aug. 31 before the SEC and commissioner Greg Sankey were added, and it has now been pushed to Sept. 3.
There are 31 student-athletes listed as plaintiffs in that case, including former Hokies tight end Dae'Quan Wright and former James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick.
Across six court cases, student-athletes have received eligibility relief at the trial-court level, though two of those injunctions were later stayed on appeal. Two other state-court cases were denied preliminary or emergency relief, including Dalley v. NCAA in Pickens County, S.C., which involves Hokies basketball’s Butta Johnson.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Just Made A Late Defensive Addition Before The Opener
Virginia Tech is making one more late roster move before its season opener against VMI, with reports saying the Hokies are adding South Carolina safety DQ Smith from the transfer portal. Smith, who spent four seasons with the Gamecocks, is expected to join Virginia Tech for his fifth college season, giving the defense another experienced option as the countdown to kickoff winds down.
The timing is notable because this kind of late addition can still matter in August, especially for a secondary that benefits from experienced depth and competition. The move has not been officially confirmed by the team yet, but if it goes through, it gives Virginia Tech another veteran piece to work into the mix right before the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Lands Veteran Help As Secondary Questions Still Linger
Virginia Tech added an experienced piece to its defensive backfield with the commitment of South Carolina defensive back D.Q. Smith, giving the Hokies another veteran option as they continue sorting out the secondary. Smith arrives after spending four seasons at South Carolina and also had a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, though he did not land an NFL contract.
Smiths path to Blacksburg moved quickly once he entered the transfer portal on Aug. 23 and then joined Virginia Tech nine days later, aided by eligibility obtained through a temporary restraining order granted by a Louisiana court. For a Hokies defense still looking for clarity in the back end, the addition brings experience and immediate help, even if the broader picture in the secondary is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Techs Efrem Johnson Hope May Be Over After Key Ruling
Efrem Butta Johnsons bid to squeeze out one more season of college basketball hit a hard stop this week, when a South Carolina judge denied his request for additional eligibility. Johnson had already played out his senior year at Clemson last season, and the ruling leaves him without a path to extend his college career through the courts.
For Virginia Tech, the decision closes the door on a potential addition who would have brought another experienced guard into the mix. Johnson had been seeking a fifth season, but with the legal challenge turned away, the Hokies and everyone else watching the case are left with the same reality: his college run appears to be over. [Read more 🡒]