LSU star Smith set for ’23 launching vs

• Alex Scarborough, ESPN

  • Personnel WriterSep 6, 2023, 12:11 PM ET Close Covers the SEC.Joined ESPN
  • in 2012.
  • Graduate of Auburn University.LSU star defensive tackle Maason Smith is anticipated to play his very first game in more than a year Saturday versus Grambling.LSU coach Brian Kelly said Wednesday that the goal is for Smith to mess around

  30 snaps in the Tigers’house opener.Smith, who was called to the Freshman All-SEC team in 2021, has been working his way back from a season-ending knee injury he suffered during last year’s Week 1 game versus Florida State. He was suspended for last Saturday’s season-opener versus the Seminoles after the NCAA identified he received an inappropriate benefit, according to The (Baton Rouge)Advocate.Editor’s Picks

1 Related LSU lost to Florida State 45-24 in Orlando and dropped from No. 5 to 14 in the Associated Press Poll.Missing Smith

‘s 6-foot-6, 315-pound frame in the middle of the defense, the Tigers quit 135 lawns hurrying and had no sacks.

“This is a total failure from a coaching standpoint and a player viewpoint that we have to certainly attend to and we need to own,” Kelly stated after the loss. “I know hardship is always going to strike at some time in this game, and this is our first real piece of adversity that we need to attend to. I’m confident our guys and our coaches will rally in the manner that they require to.”

LSU will open SEC have fun with a trip to Mississippi State on Sept. 16.