Mike Bobo updates injury status of South Carolina star receiver Shi Smith
South Carolina football’s already perilously thin wide receiver position took a major blow early Saturday night against Missouri, with senior Shi Smith going down with an injury in the first quarter and never returning.
Smith, the Gamecocks’ receiving leader in every major statistical category, went down at the end of a nine-yard reception, sandwiched between several Mizzou defenders. On the replay shown on the SEC Network broadcast, it appeared Smith may have taken some helmet-to-helmet contact.
Smith did not get up from the tackle and stayed down on the field for several minutes while trainers attended to him. Eventually, he got up and made his way gingerly to the sideline, where he went straight to the team’s injury tent.
After the game, interim coach Mike Bobo didn’t say exactly what Smith’s injury was or how long he’d be out.
“Shi was ruled out, the trainer told me that after probably five minutes after he went down. I think it’s too early to tell what his prognosis is. I saw him in the locker room. He seemed in good spirits, he seemed cognitive of what’s going on, standing right next to me when I addressed the team,” Bobo said. So, it’s gonna be in the trainers’ hands. They got to recheck and make a decision.”
Not long after he went into the injury tent, Smith retreated to the locker room, SEC Network’s Alyssa Lang reported, looking emotional and moving gingerly. He came out for the second half in street clothes.
Smith has been far and away South Carolina’s most reliable weapon in the passing game — counting that nine-yard reception, he has 54 catches on the year for 605 yards and four touchdowns. No other Gamecock has more than 20 receptions, 250 yards and one receiving touchdown. The team’s second, third and fourth leading receivers by receptions going into the game were tight end Nick Muse and running backs Kevin Harris and Deshaun Fenwick.
USC was already down sophomore Xavier Legette, the team’s second leading wide receiver by yardage, and tight end Keveon Mullins due to injury going into the game, and afterward Bobo said former quarterback-turned-wideout Dakereon Joyner was questionable as well.
This story was originally published November 21, 2020 at 8:19 PM.
