Ad Disclosure
LOOK: Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano honored absent teammate Trey Smith against South Carolina
Published:
On the week leading up to Tennessee’s game at South Carolina, the Volunteer fanbase got some terrible news. Tennessee announced that starting left tackle Trey Smith will be out indefinitely due to recurring blood clots in his lungs.
The sophomore offensive lineman is one of the Vols’ best players, and the only player on the roster to make any of the preseason All-SEC lists at SEC Media Days. Tennessee starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano took the field in Williams-Brice Stadium wearing eye black with No. 73, Smith’s jersey number.
I love this: #Vols Jarrett Guarantano (@BroadwayJay2) has the number 73 written on his eye black in support of his teammate Trey Smith (@smithtrey98 ), who’s fighting blood clots in his lungs . That’s what teammates do. pic.twitter.com/XGYTNFpWz6
— Luke Slabaugh (@LukeSlabaugh) October 28, 2018
Smith missed the entirety of spring practice and was not cleared for contact until just before the 2018 season started due to the same issue. Although he was cleared, it was known that there was a risk for the blood clots to return, and that is exactly what Tennessee team physicians discovered on Wednesday.
Guarantano delivered a message on Twitter when the news was announced as well.
Love you man😞 Everyone please say prayers for my brother. @smithtrey98 https://t.co/QDQ4QY1nrU
— Jarrett Guarantano✞ (@BroadwayJay2) October 25, 2018
Guarantano has spent a big chunk of his Tennessee career on his back, so he surely misses the 6 foot 6 inch, 320 pound lineman protecting his blindside. However, the most important thing, as head coach Jeremy Pruitt said in his statement, is for him to get healthy.
The Vols lost in Columbia on Saturday, 27-24, to drop to 3-5 (1-4 SEC) on the season. It is unknown whether or not Smith will be able to return at any point this season, but no one would be surprised to see Guarantano continue to honor him in this final stretch of four games.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Lucas is a digital reporter for 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, and a high school play-by-play broadcaster. Lucas has been covering SEC football for Saturday Down South since 2018.
