Report: Maason Smith, Kayshon Boutte took part in autograph signing before NIL legislation started

Wednesday, LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith was suspended for receiving an “improper benefit,” meaning he’ll miss the season opener against Florida State. Now, more details appear to be coming to light.

Smith and Kayshon Boutte participated in an autograph signing in Summer 2021, ESPN Baton Rouge’s Matt Moscona reported. That signing took place before the NCAA adopted interim NIL legislation, meaning it would constitute an “impermissible benefit.”

Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger also reported the event could have taken place “days or weeks” before the signing would have been allowed under NCAA rules.

Moscona added Boutte served his suspension at some point during the 2022 season. Smith, however, couldn’t because he suffered an injury in the first game of the year. Hence, the decision to suspend him for this year’s opener — which LSU learned earlier this summer.

Boutte, of course, is no longer with LSU after being selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Last year, he appeared in 11 games for the Tigers, totaling 538 yards and two touchdowns.

Maason Smith is looking to be a key contributor for LSU this year

Smith only appeared in one game a year ago after tearing his ACL on opening night against FSU. He’s looking to be a key player for LSU on defense this year after totaling 19 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks as a freshman in 2021.

Smith has been limited during training camp with a sprained ankle, Brian Kelly said earlier this month. He was taking things slow, but Kelly sounded optimistic about his chances to get on the field.

“He’s been banged up a little bit,” Kelly said. “Nothing that, you know, I don’t think we’re overly concerned with, there’s no structural damage to any joints or things of that nature. But look, he’s been out for a year. Everything hurts a little bit more after coming back into it.”

As he gets back up to speed, though, Kelly urged caution to make sure he doesn’t aggravate any injuries.

“We’ve got to be careful with him,” Kelly said. “But, again, I think (head athletic trainer) Owen Stanley and Maason have a really good relationship in terms of what can I do and what I can’t do. He had an ankle sprain, nothing that we were really too concerned with. But we’re concerned with everything when you have a player of his caliber. So we’re going to be careful with him.”