Q and A: Maason Smith on returning to the field for LSU
LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith is making his return to the field for the Tigers after missing almost all of last season plus the lost to Florida State. He shared some thoughts on the start of his 2023 season.
On his first game back in a year… “I feel great. Just taking the time to be out, the rehabilitation process, everything, I feel really comfortable with my injury, my knee. Just working to get better.”
On how tough it was to sit out vs. Florida State… “It was real tough for me just having to sit out against them knowing that I hurt myself last year against them and didn’t really get to finish what I started against them. At the end of the day, got to keep going, keep pushing and worry about the next opponent.”
On being able to impact the game… “I honestly think not only my presence, but everybody’s else presence on the defensive line, I feel like we’ll be able to do exactly what we can do, which is affect the quarterback. As a team, they hadn’t faced nobody like a defensive front of ours. I feel like it’ll be a good matchup for us come Saturday.”
On Mekhi Wingo… “He’s a great leader. He’s a hard worker on and off the field. His presence not only rubs off on not only me, but everybody in the room. Just having him around is great. We feed off each other and have a great bond and relationship.”
On LSU’s pass rush… “I feel like it can be one of the strongest pass rush’s in the country. Just with all the pieces around. There’s not really one place where you can slide the protection or double-team one person because we have a ton of athletes on that line. With that dime group with myself, Mekhi, Perkins and Swinson, we all can affect the quarterback. There’s no one person you can focus on. You’ve got to focus on the whole line, which will open up everything for everybody else.”
On Jordan Jefferson… “One thing for JJ, he had a knee injury coming in and didn’t practice in the spring like me and Mekhi didn’t. This fall camp, he’s really just been working on getting back comfortable. Him not having that spring to really sink in to the new things from the surgery and everything, I think he’s coming along real well in these last couple weeks. I think he’s playing faster. Just getting back going. I feel like he’ll be a great addition for us this season with how strong he is, how he holds blocks and everything.”
LSU takes on Grambling on Saturday inside Tiger Stadium at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
