Darris Smith injury: Missouri DE to miss entire 2024 season with knee injury

Missouri Tigers defensive end Darris Smith will be sidelined for the entire 2024 college football season due to a knee injury. Per reports, Smith suffered the season-ending injury in practice on Tuesday.

According to reports, Smith picked up his knee injury in a collision with one of his Tigers teammates during 1-on-1 drills. He had to be helped to his feet by the team’s athletic trainers. The pass rusher was visibly struggling to put weight on his injured leg and needed to be assisted off the field.

In a press release, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz addressed Smith's injury.

“We are devastated by the injury to Darris,” Drinkwitz said. “He was having an outstanding camp and was poised to have a great year. We will support Darris in his recovery and look forward to him returning stronger than before.”

Smith, who transferred to Missouri in December last year, was tipped as a starter in the Tigers' front seven after impressing the coaching staff during spring practices.

In March, coach Drinkwitz heaped praise on Smith.

“Darris Smith shined bright in the spring game,” Drinkwitz said, “And he's really flashed that way for us all spring.”

Nonetheless, the only potential good news for Smith is that he will be eligible for a medical redshirt. This means that the player can keep his remaining two seasons of college eligibility.

A glimpse into Darris Smith's collegiate career so far

Former Georgia pass rusher Darris Smith (Source: Imagn)

Smith was recruited by Kirby Smart at Georgia in 2022. He was part of the Bulldogs team that won the national title that season. However, he didn't play a major role for the team, posting just two tackles in 11 appearances.

In the 2023 season, Smith recorded five tackles, all of which were solo, in five appearances as Georgia finished with a 13-1 record.

Smith entered the transfer portal in December 2023 in search of more game time. He transferred to Missouri, but his hopes of playing in the upcoming 2024 season have been crushed due to a season-ending knee injury the player suffered in the preseason training camp.