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LSU Tigers star defensive tackle Maason Smith reportedly received some unfortunate news on Monday.
Smith will miss the remainder of the 2022 season with a torn ACL, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reports. The sophomore was injured in the first quarter of Sunday’s season opener against Florida State while celebrating a defensive stop. Smith seems to adjust his knees as he bounces around the court. He was examined in the medical tent and returned to the locker room with a noticeable limp. After halftime, he was seen walking on crutches. ESPN @espn
LSU DT Maason Smith appears to be injured after celebrating the game. pic.twitter.com/SJDBAoJUA5 Smith, a native of Homa, Louisiana, established himself as a LSU member of the top defensive end last season as a freshman. He finished with 19 tackles, five tackles and four sacks on his way to being named a freshman All-American. He is expected to play a bigger role in his second season. 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive line ranked as No. 2 in the 2021 247Sports Combined Rankings Overall outlook for the 20th. Smith is also the No. 5 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 1 prospect in Louisiana. He promised the Tigers to take offers from elite programs like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma. Smith’s loss was another blow for LSU early in the season. The Tigers were the only SEC team to lose in a disappointing loss to the Seminoles last weekend without winning their season opener, and as time went on, the team had a chance for overtime after a touchdown game, but the extra points were prevented to end the game. LSU will be back on Saturday against the South. Sophomore Maki Wengo is expected to replace Smith in the lineup.
