KNOXVILLE – Friday could be looked at as a good sign for the University of Tennessee football program, and for Trey Smith.
The 6-foot-6, 325-pound offensive lineman went through several individual drills during the open portion of the Volunteers’ first practice of the 2019 season, one that was quickly forced indoors due to weather. The action was Smith’s first since being ruled out indefinitely for the final four games of last season due to the recurrence of blood clots forming in his lungs.
“He expressed that he wants to play football,” Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt said during Thursday’s season-opening press conference. “Our doctors have kind of collaborated with everybody across the country, a lot of specialists to try to figure out a plan to enable him to have an opportunity to be able to do that.”
Smith’s work was limited, and he appeared to be closely monitored by team doctors. But Friday was a step in the right direction for the 2017 Freshman All-American
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