Despite torn ACL, Maxwell Smith wants to play in San Diego State's bowl game

Yesterday, we told you guys how former UK quarterback Maxwell Smith injured his knee in San Diego State’s game against Nevada on Saturday. Smith tore his ACL and was thought to be lost for the season, but according to the Aztecs’ head coach Rocky Long, Smith wants to postpone his surgery and play in whichever bowl the team goes to.

“He says he’s going to try to play in the bowl game,” Long said. “He’s going to try to rehab and put it in a brace and see if he can play with the brace and then he’s going to get operated on after the bowl game. That’s his plan right now. That’s what he wants to do.”

The Aztecs will start backup Christian Chapman in this weekend’s Mountain West Championship game against Air Force and will find out Sunday which bowl they’re going to, giving Maxwell time to rehab his knee. Long said it’s possible for quarterbacks to play with torn ACLs, and team doctors don’t have a problem with Maxwell going for it.

“The one position you could probably do it is quarterback,” Long said. “If you hand the ball off and straight drop back and all you do is throw it, you might (be able to play). … I can’t believe he wants to try, to be honest with you, but if he wants to try, good for him.”

If we didn’t know it before, we know it now: Maxwell is one tough kid.

[San Diego Union-Tribune]