“Penn State’s been having a very poor recruiting year -- at least a start to a poor recruiting year,” said Tom Lemming, a national recruiting analyst who did color commentary during NBC’s broadcast. “This is a big lift for them. He’s not only an outstanding tackle, but he has played some guard, [and] he has growth potential to reach 310, 320.”

Added Aaron Taylor, a former San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers offensive guard who also did commentary on the game: "[Smith has] been pretty aggressive, and the coaches like what they’ve seen out of him this week. You never know what you’re going to get when you put guys up against good competition, but he’s more than held his own.”

Smith moved to Baltimore County from Amityville, N.Y., before his sophomore year, joining a Golden Eagles squad that was mired in a 53-game losing streak. Smith suited up for coach Steve Lurz’s team and immediately made an impact on Owings Mills’ offensive and defensive lines. It wasn’t until Smith’s trip to San Antonio last year, however, that he became a true national recruit.

“There’s not many DI guys that come out of Baltimore County,” Lurz said this week. “You don’t see it a ton. You didn’t know if he’d get that level of buzz. Then he went to the combine, and it was like, wow. Everyone was in to see him.”

Lurz said Penn State was “real strong from the beginning” in its pursuit of Smith. The Nittany Lions’ recruiting efforts were headed by defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who visited Owings Mills “a bunch” over the past year.

After considering offers from Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, among others, Smith pared his list to the Bruins, Nittany Lions and Wolfpack. Smith took an official visit to State College on Oct. 30 for Penn State’s 41-31 win over Michigan.

“The fact that they have 108,000 seats, that’s kind of like NFL football,” Smith said in November. “The students and all the alums that they have up there [stood out]. They’re very big on that. The coaching staff [is a positive]. I love the campus. The Michigan game was a good game. Even after [Wolverines quarterback] Denard Robinson broke a big run, the crowd never faded out. They stayed in the game, and it was a great experience.”

In college, Lurz said, Smith will finally have the chance to be challenged daily. The Owings Mills coach expects his star lineman to thrive against better competition.

“He just has a huge upside with his framework, his size and his athleticism,” Lurz said. “He’s the kind of kid that will put on some weight in the weight room the next couple of years. He does have a competitive streak in him. Obviously, technique is important. At the next level, all the guys are bigger, faster and stronger. It’ll be more about technique for him. That’ll probably come naturally to him. I think his potential is through the roof.”

Baltimore Sun photo of Donovan Smith by Amy Davis / November 30, 2010