Vanderbilt will very likely be without starting defensive tackle Adam Smotherman for the start of the 2010 season, The Tennessean is reporting.
Smotherman suffered a torn ACL in a practice session over the weekend, and will undergo surgery once the swelling in the knee subsides.
“I planted my leg and felt a pop,” Smotherman said. “It’s just one of those freak things. I’ve taken on hundreds of blocks before. It’s crazy to make it through so many games without anything like that happening, and then the first day of spring practice in pads this happens.”
Head coach Bobby Johnson hopes to get the tackle back before a third of the season is complete.
The senior is Johnson’s “most experienced defensive lineman” and has started 23 straight games for the Commodores.