No. 21 Penn State vs. Illinois - AP Photos - 10/29/11
Donovan Smith was ready to go if called upon during his true freshman season, but the productive senior-laden offensive line avoided any significant injuries, allowing Smith to take a valuable redshirt season. He saw practice time with the second-team O-Line for much of last year and made significant progress during off-season conditioning and spring drills. As the spring session concluded, the talented and driven Smith was atop the depth chart at left tackle and is poised to emerge as a significant contributor this fall. An all-state selection at Owings Mills High School, Smith has excellent physical attributes and work ethic and a promising future. He is among 10 Nittany Lion returnees from Maryland.
2011 Freshman Season
Redshirt season.
High School
Smith was a first-team all-state and Baltimore Sun first-team all-met selection for Coach Steve Lurz at Owings Mills High School. He did not allow a sack as a junior or senior and also was a standout defensive lineman. Smith played in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and was rated a four-star recruit by 24/7sports.com.
Personal
Full name is Donovan Cole Smith. He is the son of Sharon Thomas. He has three sisters, Danielle and Tamika Thomas and Ebony Smith, and one brother, Dwayne Thomas. He enjoys listening to music, reading, cooking, fishing, playing video games and watching stand-up comedy. He is enrolled in the College of the Liberal Arts and is interested in becoming an FBI agent or detective. Born June 23, 1993 in Hempstead, N.Y.
