Texas A&M star WR Ainias Smith out for year with injury

The worst possible situation has been realized for the Texas A&M Aggies as star senior wide receiver Ainias Smith will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.

The injury has been reported as a broken fibula and an ankle injury that will require surgery on Twitter by someone close to the Smith family.

Smith suffered an injury to his right leg that kept him down for a long time before exiting the game. While blocking on a routine play, an Arkansas defender made a tackle behind him and rolled into Smith’s legs. Replay showed the defender’s body pin Smith’s right leg to the ground at an awkward angle, before Smith remained down on the field and needed trainers.

That same family friend reported Smith will travel to his family in Alabama and will have surgery.

Before his injury, Smith led Texas A&M both in receptions and receiving yards this season with 15 and 291, respectively. He also had two receiving touchdowns. In his four year career, Smith has amassed 127 receptions for 1,612 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also has 67 rushes for 384 yards and four touchdowns.

Ainias Smith emotional speaking with father following injury

The ESPN broadcast shared additional details of the injury as they showed Smith on the sideline with a towel covering his head and speaking with his father.

“It’s a pretty emotional scene on the Texas A&M sideline, unfortunately. Ainias was able to come out of the tent, he’s got a boot on that right ankle. He’s on crutches. He made his way behind the bench to an embrace by his father. His father, visibly emotional, they were forehead to forehead as they embraced. Obviously so upset by the injury, it seems to be pretty serious.”

Billy Liucci of TexAgs has confirmed the injury. Liucci reports that while Smith has the ability to return for a fifth season in College Station, he does not expect this to happen and that Smith his family are hopeful he will return in time for NFL pre-draft workouts.

The loss of Smith is undoubtedly a major blow for the Aggies offense, who will now rely on young talent to fill his shoes. The receiver next up behind Smith in receptions and yards is five-star true freshman Evan Stewart.

The next game for the Aggies comes this upcoming Saturday as they travel to Mississippi State to face the unranked 3-1 Bulldogs.