Virginia Tech signs South Carolina safety transfer DQ Smith

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James Franklin has made a late addition to Virginia Tech's roster, signing South Carolina transfer safety DQ Smith on Tuesday, according to Kolby Crawford of 247Sports.

Smith spent the past four seasons at South Carolina and was originally out of eligibility following the end of the 2025 season. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and was recently granted an extra year of eligibility by a court in Louisiana, which also allowed him to enter the transfer portal.

He played in 48 games during his time at South Carolina, making 45 starts. He finished with 228 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, five interceptions, and 16 pass breakups.

Smith served as a captain for South Carolina last year when they played Virginia Tech, recording six tackles. He played and started 11 games in 2025, recording 64 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception, and one pass breakup.

He will have quite a battle to see playing time for the Hokies at the start of the season, with Virginia Tech set to open its 2026 season against VMI on Saturday. However, he adds proven experience to the defense and could emerge as a key player once he learns the playbook.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Virginia Tech signs South Carolina safety transfer DQ Smith

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