Will Muschamp announces OrTre Smith will be out for remainder of the season
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After spending much time and deliberation, South Carolina and OrTre Smith have decided the best course of action is to shut it down for this season.
Will Muschamp announced the news during his Tuesday afternoon press conference from Columbia. As explained by the South Carolina coach, Smith has been struggling with a very painful knee issue all fall, and all parties have been working hard to deal with the issue and keep the talented receiver on the field.
However, in the end, the pain was too significant, and Smith will have to have surgery to correct the issue.
“OrTre Smith is going to have surgery next week — genetic issue on his knee. It’s a sublux kneecap, it slides out about 40 percent and is very, very painful. Something he has been dealing with over a long period of time,” Muschamp revealed. “Obviously really affected him this training camp and he’s had a hard time with it. We’ve exhausted just about every measure we could medically to alleviate the pain.
“I’m really frustrated for him. I know he’s been extremely frustrated this fall not playing at his full-go potential. We will have the surgery that will end his season this year, he should be back for spring ball and Jamel Cook will sit this year, as far as eligibility is concerned.”
Smith had an outstanding season for the Gamecocks as a true freshman, despite the depth South Carolina possesses at receiver, the Mount Pleasant native still managed to catch 30 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns in 2017. He started 10 games and played in 13 as a true freshman. This season, he made only three catches for 25 yards as he dealt with the tough injury.
That wasn’t the only injury news of the day, as Muschamp revealed senior K.C. Crosby plans to play this weekend despite recent surgery to one of his fingers.
“K.C. Crosby had surgery on his finger, should be fine for game day — did not practice today, but I think he will be full go on Thursday,” Muschamp noted.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
