One year after suffering a season-ending injury against Florida State, LSU starting defensive tackle, Maason Smith, will again miss a crucial game on the Tigersʻ schedule against the Seminoles.
According to an article by The Advocate, the redshirt sophomore was issued a one-game suspension by the NCAA for receiving an “improper benefit from an autograph signing before the NIL period began.”
Smith is projected to be one of the stars on a scary LSU defense that also includes Harold Perkins Jr., Major Burns, and Mekhi Wingo even though he has barely seen the field in-game.
As a freshman in 2021, Smith played in nine games, starting four. He accumulated 19 tackles and four sacks. Last year, the Houma, La. native spent the entirety of the season on injured reserve after tearing his ACL against Florida State in Week 1.
Just one week ago, head coach Brian Kelly said in his press conference that Smith had been “banged up a little bit,” also citing that Maason had an ankle sprain that limited him in practice.
LSU, who enters the season No. 5 on the AP poll, will again be without Smithʻs presence on the interior defensive line as the Tigers rematch No. 8 Florida State in a Top-10, neutral site season opener in Orlando. Smith will be able to suit up in LSUʻs home-opener against Grambling of the FCS Southwestern Athletic Conference on September 9.
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