Donovan Smith
Donovan Smith  QB  Houston | NFL Draft 2025 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Donovan Smith
Height
6-5
Weight
235
College
Houston
Position
QB
Class
Senior
Home town
Las Vegas, NV
83.8/100
Player Rating
13
PositionRank (QB)
4.58
FortyYD Time
QB Rating
69.9
YDS
681
Comp %
65.4
TDS
2
INTs
5
Rush AVG
1.8

Donovan Smith QB Houston | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Donovan Smith QB Houston
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer
Last Updated: 09/21/2024
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.58 seconds (92%*)
Measurables:
Height: 6-5 (87%*) Weight: 235 (88%*)
Forty: 4.58 (O) (92%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer
Last Updated: 09/21/2024
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.58 seconds (92%*)
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-5 (87%*) Weight: 235 (88%*)
Forty: 4.58 (O) (92%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 83.8 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
76%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Release Speed:
76%
Short Passing:
61%
Medium Passing:
63%
Long Passing:
63%
Rush/Scramble:
68%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 3rd
Overall Rank: #84 Position rank: #13
College Games: 33 College Snaps: 1786
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
Grade: 247 Sports 3  Stars 247 Sports 85 Stars 247 RATING: 85/100
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson - UCLA
61%
Desmond Ridder - Cincinnati
53%
Will Levis - Kentucky
52%
Draft Profile: Bio
Donovan Smith, a 6'5", 215-pound quarterback from Houston, has emerged as an intriguing prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft. Born in October 2001, Smith's journey to the NFL has been marked by resilience and steady improvement. After transferring from Texas Tech, where he played 21 games over three seasons, Smith found his stride at Houston in 2023.

As a junior, Smith started all 12 games for the Cougars, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities. He completed 64.5% of his passes for 2,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also contributing 241 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his final four games. Smith's performance placed him among the Big 12's top quarterbacks, ranking third in completion percentage and fourth in completions per game.

Smith's football pedigree is noteworthy. His father, DeAndre Smith, is the Indianapolis Colts' running backs coach and had his jersey retired at Missouri State. This background has clearly influenced Smith's approach to the game, as he describes himself as "exciting" on the field and cites "the haters" as his motivation for working hard.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Prototypical QB frame with plus athleticism and exceptional play strength, allowing him to extend plays and shake off would-be tacklers
  • Plus arm talent with the juice to fit balls into tight windows and make all the NFL throws; can really spin it when he steps into his passes
  • Displays good touch and trajectory control on deep balls, able to drop it in the bucket when needed
  • Plus escapability for his size; can be a true dual-threat when plays break down and shows good instincts as a scrambler
  • Impressive arm elasticity allows him to deliver accurate strikes from multiple platforms and arm angles
  • Flashes the ability to throw with anticipation, particularly on in-breaking routes and over the middle
  • Demonstrates savvy in manipulating second-level defenders with his eyes to create passing lanes
  • Shows good football IQ with the ability to adjust ball placement based on leverage and coverage looks
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Arm strength is good but not elite; may struggle to push the ball vertically against NFL secondaries consistently
  • Still developing his ability to diagnose pre-snap looks; needs to improve blitz recognition and protection adjustments
  • Processing speed in the pocket can be inconsistent; occasionally late pulling the trigger on open receivers
  • Tendency to lock onto his first read; needs to become more proficient working through full-field progressions
  • Can be slow to feel pocket pressure, particularly from the interior; must improve pocket awareness to avoid negative plays
Scouting Report: Summary
Smith's physical tools and developmental trajectory make him an intriguing Day 2 prospect with Day 1 upside. His plus size, arm talent, and mobility fit the mold of a modern NFL signal-caller. While he's flashed the ability to make NFL-caliber throws, consistency will be the key to his draft stock in his final collegiate campaign.

In terms of scheme fit, Smith projects best in a system that utilizes bootlegs and play-action to maximize his ability to throw on the move. His arm strength and mobility could be weaponized in an offense that emphasizes creating throwing lanes and attacking defenses vertically. However, he'll need to sharpen his mental processing and pre-snap acumen to fully unlock his potential at the next level.

As the draft process unfolds, Smith has positioned himself as a potential riser on draft boards. With another year of refinement, he could solidify himself as one of the top arms in his class. NFL decision-makers will be closely monitoring his senior tape to see if he can put it all together and translate his impressive physical tools into consistent production against high-level competition. If Smith can elevate his game and show improved pocket presence and decision-making, he could hear his name called earlier than expected on draft day.
Written By:
Andrew Moore (The American)

How other scouting services rate Donovan Smith (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
112.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
14.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.