Brian Kelly gives update on Maason Smith amid season-ending injury

After missing LSU‘s entire regular season – minus a few of snaps – Maason Smith‘s ACL recovery is going smoothly, Tigers headman Brian Kelly said ahead of conference championship weekend.

“He’s doing well. He’s obviously focused on his academics and his rehabilitation. He’s had no setbacks,” Kelly said. “We expect him to be ready for our off-season program and progressing into spring ball. We’ll be excited to see him get back.”

Smith was the highest-rated recruit from LSU’s 2021 recruiting class, according to the On3 Consensus Player Rankings. He was also the highest-rated prospect in the state of Louisiana, and the No. 11 ranked recruit in the nation.

In his freshman year with the Tigers, Smith recorded 19 tackles — including five for a loss and four sacks. Smith appeared in nine games during 2021 and started in four of them, but missed the end of the season with a leg injury.

Smith’s injury occurred when he was celebrating a play in the first quarter of the season opener against Florida State. His knee buckled and immediately favored his knee. Smith was poised for a breakout year in 2022, but the ACL injury is just another setback the former blue-chip prospect has had to endure since arriving in Baton Rouge.

If his progress continues to progress at the rate it has, Smith could be back on the field as early as spring training. He’ll surely be ready by the team LSU’s season opener rolls around in September. Ironically, the Tigers are set to battle Florida State in the 2023 season opener – a redemption game for Smith if there ever was one.

Until then, he’ll have to cheer his No. 14 Tigers on from the sidelines as they prepare for Saturday’s SEC Championship game against No. 1 Georgia. Kickoff between LSU and Bulldogs is set for 4 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta live on CBS.