USC’s DQ Smith puts aside freshman jitters to deliver signature Week 1 play
In meetings leading up to South Carolina’s season-opening 35-14 win over Georgia State, head football coach Shane Beamer had a clear and consistent message to his team — especially to his freshmen.
Don’t get wrapped up in the atmosphere of Williams-Brice Stadium and its 78,000 fans. Don’t stare at the new, mesmerizing LED lights that encircle the stadium. Don’t watch the scoreboard. Stay in the moment. Stay in the game.
Yet, moments before Saturday night’s kickoff, Beamer looked over on the sidelines and saw freshman defensive back DeQuandre “DQ” Smith gaping at the giant video screen behind the student section.
“And I’m like, ‘We just talked about this,’ ” Beamer said, shaking his head and laughing after the game.
Beamer was able to laugh about the moment, in part, because of the way the young freshman would respond to it later in the contest. After shaking off his wide-eyed wonderment, the rookie Smith produced one of the game’s signature moments in the second half.
Up by just six points late in the third quarter, the Gamecock defense forced a stop and then — stunningly — special teamer Rashad Amos surged toward GSU punter Michael Hayes and blocked the punt. That’s when Smith came in.
The freshman scooped up the football and raced 26 yards down the field for a special teams touchdown, electrifying the sold-out crowd and giving the Gamecocks some much-needed breathing room on the scoreboard.
The play was the first of two blocked punts that resulted in touchdowns for USC. Before Saturday, the Gamecocks hadn’t accomplished the feat since 2000, meaning it hadn’t happened in Smith’s lifetime. The freshman was born in 2004.
“Seeing the punt get blocked, it was kind of surprising, but I knew nobody was around me,” Smith said. “Picking up the ball, I played a lot of offense in high school, so I kind of forgot how to run the ball after that. But I was able to make the play.”
A former quarterback at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, Smith was a lightly recruited prospect who joined the Gamecocks late in the recruiting cycle and converted to defensive back. Despite the lack of fanfare, Beamer has spoken glowingly about both Smith and fellow rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori — another local product from nearby Irmo. And the plan was for both players to see action Saturday night.
After veteran defensive back R.J. Roderick injured his arm in the first defensive drive of the game, that plan was accelerated, and both Emmanwori and Smith saw time in the secondary. Notably, Emmanwori made a crucial stop on 4th-and-1 in Georgia State’s first drive, a play that fired up Beamer from the sidelines.
Though Beamer has seen his freshmen impress in practice, this was the first time he could see them under the lights, in front of a roaring crowd, with flashing LED lights around them.
“It was great to see Nick and DQ, to be two true freshman from here in Columbia, to play like they played,” Beamer said. “And it just goes to show you how crazy recruiting can be sometimes. I mean, I think we beat nobody for Nick. And I think we just beat Georgia Southern for DQ because they wanted him to come play quarterback.
“We trusted our evaluations. We knew those two kids were really good football players, and I was happy to see them make plays out there tonight and contribute .... The moment wasn’t too big for them tonight.”
It was almost too big for Smith, who chuckled when asked about staring at the video board before the game. He expressed gratitude to his teammates and coaches for helping him find his footing in what was a dream-like experience for the hometown product.
“It was unreal,” he said. “I’ve never played in front of that many people before.
“It was a special moment, knowing I’m a local guy. I’ve come to a lot of games here, so it was almost a surreal moment playing in front of my hometown.”
Not only did he play — he starred.
This story was originally published September 5, 2022 at 8:50 AM with the headline "USC’s DQ Smith puts aside freshman jitters to deliver signature Week 1 play."
