SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 14, 2025

DQ Smith

South Carolina Gamecocks

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by DQ Smith.

Q. South Carolina has had a long run of defensive backs that have come through and done a great job in previous years. Just talk about -- you're the guy this year -- what's your leadership role going to be, or what do you see your fit for this coming season?

DQ SMITH: The leadership role definitely changes this year with all the guys we lost to the draft last year. I'm stepping up to the plate now. I know the history of the DBs that have left the University of South Carolina, that were developed. I'm (indiscernible) and I'm ready for it and I'm ready for the challenge.

Q. You've got the commercial with Dairy Queen. What's going on?

DQ SMITH: No, it's something I want to work with one day. A lot of people on my team tell me that, Dairy Queen. They call me that as well.

Q. What would you like people to know about the defense this year?

DQ SMITH: Nothing changes. I know we lost a lot of players, a lot of vocal leaders, but we're replacing that. It's not easy to replace, but we know what the standard is. We're going to hold those guys accountable to that standard.

Q. Along those same lines, what do you think the identity of your defense will be this fall?

DQ SMITH: Like I say, I don't think the identity changes it at all. We've got new faces that come in and step into roles that guys that left last year.

The identity stays the same. We want to be that tough team, that tough defense that's really gritty and ready to get down and dirty, whatever. Just being dominant. Dominant, that's the main thing, just dominant.

Q. You're going to be one of the faces of that defense this year. You're going to be out there more visible than you've been in the past. What's the most important thing you want people to know about you?

DQ SMITH: I'm a team guy first. I put the team first. Then me and then obviously just being a nonselfish guy, just out there to make a play. Whether I'm making a play or not, I'm gonna contain the play, get the ball back so somebody else can make the play. I'm one of those guys, not really a selfish guy.

Q. How important is it to write off last year. It was a very good year, but each year is different. How important is that as a player?

DQ SMITH: It's definitely important, because we come into the season with the confidence, the confidence we need to go into the season.

It's never easy starting with a game like Virginia Tech, we have obviously the first game. It's a big game. We need that confidence going into this year.

Not really focused on last year, though. It's a new year, new faces, so just going in here with the utmost confidence and balling out.

Q. What's it look like working with Coach Gray? How would you describe him to?

DQ SMITH: Tough coach, tough coach. He's going to put you in the film, and you're know a lot of things going into the game week.

He's one of those guys that loves football. The way he loves football is going to show the way he coaches us. He's yelling a lot, saying a lot of things. But at the end of the day he loves us. He wants us to do best.

Q. DQ, what's the difference when you're preparing for the dual-threat quarterback versus the pocket passer?

DQ SMITH: Pocket passer, it's just keeping the quarterback, we're not really worried about him running or anything like that, so just getting to the quarterback. It's not -- if he's a pocket passer he's probably accurate, way accurate. So we have to be great in coverage.

Dual-threat, when we're preparing for a quarterback like that, obviously we have to contain him, keep him in the pocket. But the most important thing is when he gets outside the pocket, plastering onto the receivers, two receivers that are trying to make plays for the quarterbacks. That's probably two differences.

Q. What's your thoughts of the season's opener? You get to come back to Atlanta playing in front of a national spotlight. You're playing Coach Beamer's old school where he went as the head coach there. But just give us your thoughts on the season opener here in Atlanta.

DQ SMITH: It's a great game, especially with it being his alma mater. So just going out there and trying to make a statement for our season, it could set the standard for what we do this year.

It's not really going to make an outcome of what we do this game. But it's the first game. You always want to make a dominant standpoint obviously and just to win.

Q. Obviously it's been a while since you went through the recruiting process and coming to South Carolina, but certainly a little unique. What do you remember about just being recruited by South Carolina, how it all played out for you to get to the Gamecocks?

DQ SMITH: Obviously in high school I was a quarterback. South Carolina was always a school I wanted to come to because I wanted to play quarterback. I wanted to throw the ball a lot, whatever that meant.

So finally making a decision to play defensive back, there was no reason for me to leave, with Coach Beamer getting here. It's a new identity with the school.

Coach Gray I feel was the best defensive back coach in America. I still feel that way.

And then my family is also here as well. Just staying here was the most important thing for me.

Q. South Carolina was one of the hottest teams in the country last year down the stretch. How do you go about carrying over that momentum through the offseason into fall?

DQ SMITH: That momentum definitely carries over to the new year. But at the same time it's new faces now. It's a new year for us. We're not worried about what we did last year.

It's definitely something that boosts the confidence a little bit, but at the end of the day we still have to go play ball. And it's a new year. Everybody's record is 0-0, so just going out there and dominating again.

Q. Since you moved to the defensive side of the ball, do you have a favorite kind of play, like a hit stick, interception? What's your favorite thing to do on the field?

DQ SMITH: Interceptions. That's my favorite thing. Interceptions and sacks probably my two favorite things to do. I have a couple of both. Those two things bring the most excitement out of me.

Q. Playing in Williams-Brice Stadium is a great experience and environment to play in there, but where is your favorite place to play when you have to go on the road?

DQ SMITH: On the road, we're playing the SEC, hardest conference in college football. So just I feel every time we're on the road it's a hard environment to play in. Favorite place, I don't really have a favorite. They're all amazing because it's SEC fans going behind their team, just everything is the same, like just smack talk from the fans, everything, the loud stadiums, everything is the same. I feel like definitely every time we go on the road is one of my favorite places to play.

Q. Last year it came down to the wire against Alabama. Alabama obviously comes to Columbia, which has been a difficult place for them in the past. Stephen Garcia remembers. Just what's the mindset going into -- I know it's several weeks away, but what's the mindset kind of going into that match-up knowing the history of that series?

DQ SMITH: Right now, Alabama's one of the, like, fourth, fifth game, I'm not sure when it is. We're not really worried about that game right now. It's kind of game by game. But when that game does come, it's definitely going to be a huge game for us. Obviously know Alabama's history and what they have done coming to our stadium. It's going to be a huge game for us. We'll be hyped up for that game.

Q. You're sort of a big defensive back, I would say. I know they're both challenges but you have a smaller fast receiver or a big tall receiver, what's more challenging for you?

DQ SMITH: I wouldn't say anything is challenging. I can move still. I can move really well. So just really no challenge. We're going to call the right play for different personnel, whatever it is. It's all the same to me.

Q. Would you be a better college quarterback than LaNorris would be a college DB or vice versa?

DQ SMITH: I'm going to give it to LaNorris. No, I'm going to give it to myself, actually, I'd be a better quarterback.