Texas Tech junior defensive back Desmon Smith is finally settling into the role many have long projected for him.
“He has it in him to really be a good player,” Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury told OAOA.com heading into the start of the 2018 season. “It’s just consistency with him and he knows that. I’ve been proud of the way he’s addressed it.”
And the Red Raiders are better for his effort. Through the 10 games the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Texas native has registered 26 tackles and three passes defended. Smith first cracked the Texas Tech lineup as a sophomore, when he recorded 30 tackles, three passes defended an interception.
“He’s gotten bigger, stronger, faster, all the things we want him to do,” Kingsbury added.
As a freshman, Smith was named to the Big 12 All-Freshmen second team by Athlon Sports after finishing with 16 tackles, 12 of them solo.
The Periman High grad chose Texas Tech over Minnesota, Houston, Kansas, Colorado, Rice, SMU and Washington State. As a senior, Smith was named Associated Press Class 6A All-State honorable mention, along with being named the Odessa American Statesman All-Permian Basin Defensive Player of the Year, finishing the year with 35 total tackles (18 solo), four interceptions, nine pass breakups and three tackles for loss.
