One of the newest additions to the UFL this year is QB Donovan Smith. He was selected by Kevin Sumlin and the Houston Gamblers during the Quarterback Draft, returning to his hometown to play professional football.
Smith, just 24 years old, is receiving his first true professional opportunity in the UFL. He played his college ball at Texas Tech and Houston, throwing for over 6,500 yards and 45 touchdowns. Smith is a dual threat signal caller, rushing for almost 850 yards and 19 scores collegiately.
We got to catch up with Donovan earlier this week about the opportunity to play in the UFL. It’s something he isn’t taking for granted, being inside a pro organization for the first time:
“It’s a blessing to be here. I’m so excited. Now that I’ve got a professional tag, and I’m around a whole bunch of professionals – everyone with the Gamblers handles their business. Day in and day out, they make it easier for me. We had a great scrimmage today, and we look good.”
When it comes to landing with the Gamblers, Smith was very enthusiastic. Not only is he returning to Houston to play pro football – he’s also playing in a similar-styled offense to what he was accustomed to collegiately.
“When I heard that I was drafted here, I was excited. Definitely looked into his [Sumlin’s] background, running a similar offense to what I’m familiar with, like what Kliff Klingsbury did at Texas Tech. I’m excited about seeing it. The plays we’ve been running since day one, it’s been second nature to me.”
So far, it’s been a strong camp for Smith. He’s got a ton of weapons to throw the ball to, which was evident when we attended the Gamblers’ joint practice with the Kings on Tuesday.
This wide receiver room in Houston is dangerous. They’ve got size, speed, and everything in between. Donovan’s clearly been training hard with this group as of late, as chemistry is already building just over a week into camp.
“You can ask my mom, my dad, my girlfriend – every day I come home from practice and tell them that these guys can catch. Everyone can. From the tight ends, to running backs, to wide receivers, everybody. It’s hard to pick out someone specific, I just know based off of route concepts, I’ve got confidence with where I’m throwing the ball. It’s a great experience knowing I’ve got that security out there to make me look good. One of the plays out here today, my tight end made me look good. Having that in my arsenal is a blessing.”
#UFL Camp Clip: #Gamblers QB Donovan Smith hits TE Armani Rogers in a tight window, who makes the juggling catch which turns into a score.
I was impressed with what I saw out of Smith today. Commands the offense with confidence. pic.twitter.com/c5C6UtB15g
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) March 3, 2026
As for Smith, he’s looking to keep it professional. We can tell just from talking to him and reading his disposition – he’s got a heart to learn, and a desire to be better each and every day:
“I think my biggest goal is to just be a professional. I want to come in and be consistently good. Don’t want there to be great moments sporadically, I want to be consistently good every day. Stack days. We’ve got a great schedule here as an organization. Right now, I’m learning how to be a professional. I’m learning my routine, my body, and enjoying this time with my teammates.”
The Houston Gamblers have got themselves a good one in Donovan Smith. It’s going to be a tough competition for playing time between Smith, Nolan Henderson, and Hunter Dekkers at QB. That said, Donovan has already flashed what he can do on the field early in camp – and could end up as the guy to lead Houston to success in 2026 and beyond.
Are you excited to watch Donovan Smith suit up with the Houston Gamblers? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
