Report: Freshman All-American OL Trey Smith cleared to play after dealing with blood clots

The news we’ve been waiting to hear all summer long has come down the wire this afternoon. Tennessee’s Freshman All-American offensive lineman Trey Smith has been cleared to return to the football field, according to ESPN’s Chris Low.

Low reports that Smith was dealing with blood clots in his lungs, which forced him to miss all of spring ball. Jeremy Pruitt kept it vague with the media, saying that Smith was dealing with a “health issue.”

Smith told ESPN in an exclusive interview that he’s eager to get back onto the field, but also understands the risks after spending the last several months consulting with a team of specialists and doctors, who reached a consensus that the best way to treat his condition was with a six-month course of anticoagulants (blood-thinning medication) followed by baby aspirin.

Smith will be able to take part in conditioning and non-contact drills to start and is expected to be cleared for contact sometime in mid-August, per Low’s report.

“Trey had a condition in the spring that kept him out of practice,” Pruitt said during SEC Media Days. “They diagnosed it, treated it and he’s gonna be back in the fall. We’re excited to have him back. I know he’s excited about coming back. He keeps talking to me about, man I missed all these reps in the spring, I said Trey, I promise you’ll be fine.”