Florida commit reportedly shuts down season to preserve long-term health
A Florida Gators wide receiver commit, CJ Smith, will reportedly skip the remainder of the 2021 football season to focus on his health.
Apparently, Smith, who is from Orlando’s Bishop Moore Catholic, is still dealing with a partial meniscus tear that he suffered when he had an ACL injury back in his freshman year in high school.
Four-star Florida WR commit CJ Smith will forgo the remainder of his 2021 football season to focus on his health.
More on Smith’s decision and what it means for the Gators: https://t.co/WE9DuGqALT
— Rivals (@Rivals) September 16, 2021
St. Francis Smith, his father, told Rivals that his son would shut things down for the rest of the year:
“He is going to forgo his football and track career because he’s been managing this torn meniscus, so it’s been aggravating.”
“We talked to the UF staff, the trainers, coach Savage, Dr. Farmer, and they gave us guidance saying that it’s going to be a matter of time before it gives away. So, would we rather do it now and just get him prepared to go to UF next year, or will he continue to put himself at risk? That’s where we had to really sit down and say, ‘OK, what you’ve accomplished with that meniscus, the state 100 and 200-meter times, you’re running 10.2s with that torn meniscus.”
The Bishop Moore wide receiver is ranked the No. 35 best wide receiver in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite in the Class of 2022.
Veteran journalist Stacey Mickles graduated from the University of Alabama and covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.