Texas football vs. Texas Tech: 4 reasons the Horns can dominate Week 4

Donovan Smith is very turnover prone

So far this season, interceptions were a real problem for redshirt sophomore Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith. Since taking over for the former Oregon Ducks transfer and senior quarterback Tyler Shough earlier this season, Smith has tossed five picks. He’s averaging nearly one interception for every 20 passing attempts.

And Smith is tossing one pick in roughly every 15th completion this season.

That’s not a sustainable pace of turnover management for the Red Raider offense to find any consistent success against big-time opponents this season.

Smith cost the Red Raiders in a big way last weekend when he tossed a pick-six. And to make matters worse, Smith might have worse passing stats if not for the easier start to the regular season a few weeks ago against FCS Murray State.

All five picks for Smith came in the last two games against Houston and NC State. Texas will be another difficult secondary for Smith to face that is capable of picking him off a couple of times.

In two of the first three games of the season, Texas defensive backs have managed a pick-six. In the season-opening win over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, it was senior corner D’Shawn Jamison that took one to the house for a pick-six.

Last weekend, junior defensive back Jahdae Barron took one to the house on a botched screen pass by UTSA.

Smith’s wideouts haven’t done much to help him so far this season either. His wideouts had four drops in the last two games. And if they aren’t able to give him more support this weekend, the Longhorns’ secondary could be in for a big day in Lubbock.