KNOXVILLE - Doctors found blood clots in Trey Smith's lungs after Tennessee's football practice Wednesday, and Smith was released from the hospital Saturday, according to Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt.
But at some point during a life-altering week, Smith found a chance to share a message with his teammates.
That message, according to redshirt junior linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., was that Smith didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him.
"He's still a part of this team," Kirkland said.
The Vols (3-5, 1-4 SEC) managed to find an offensive rhythm without Smith early in the 27-24 loss at South Carolina on Saturday night. They likely will need to replicate that in their final four games.
Pruitt suggested to the Vol Network before Saturday's game that the sophomore left tackle will not play again this season after the doctors found the blood clots again. Smith missed spring practices and much of preseason practices because of the same condition before returning to start Tennessee's first seven games.
"Everybody knew Trey's circumstance, OK?" Pruitt said. "There wasn't any secrets. Everybody knew it, everybody knew what was going on and everybody knew that this could possibly happen at some point in time. We had our fingers crossed that it wouldn't, but unfortunately it did and our doctors did a great job figuring it out."
Sophomore Marcus Tatum started at left tackle and filled in admirably for Smith, but the Gamecocks sacked Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano twice and knocked him down several more times.
Redshirt junior right tackle Drew Richmond shook his head in frustration as he discussed Tennessee's pass protection after the game.
"Honestly, it's a little sad to see him take those hits," Richmond said. "We can't let our quarterback take those hits. We just can't."
But the offensive line spurred Tennessee's running game to a relative explosion. The Vols averaged 4.2 yards per rush, their highest mark against a power conference opponent this season.
If the Vols are going to continue improving in that regard, they will have to do it without Smith on the field. Typically regarded as the team's best run blocker, Smith chose Tennessee over Alabama as ESPN's top-rated prospect in the 2017 class.
He quickly earned the respect of teammates and fans with physical play on the field and mature but personable persona off the field.
"He's a great competitor, great leader," Kirkland said. "Unfortunate situation. He's my brother and I worked with him all offseason and it's an unfortunate circumstance, but this guy is still a part of our football team in multiple ways aside from being on the field. He's still a vocal leader inside the classroom and in the meeting rooms pushing his O-line to the best of their abilities."
Pruitt declined to speculate Saturday night on whether Smith's football career could be over.
"You know, I'm not a doctor," Pruitt said. "I've stayed out of that the whole time. Whatever Trey and his family have wanted to do, we've fully supported them. Everybody at our university has. That's not our decision. That's theirs."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.