N.C. State CB Smith out for the season

GREENSBORO -- N.C State sophomore cornerback Rashard Smith will miss the entire season because of a knee injury, coach Tom O’Brien said.

“Rashard had surgery last week,’’ O’Brien said Monday afternoon at the ACC Kickoff. “He had, basically, the Toney Baker surgery, and he’ll be out for the year.”

Smith played in five games as a true freshman last season, and was expected to compete for a starting slot this year.

Asked how much of an impact the Georgia native’s absence would make, O’Brien said: “Certainly it is [a blow] to the secondary when you think of all the young kids back there, and you already know that Jarvis Byrd is out until at least November because of his injury…you played five freshmen back there last year, and you’ve already lost two of them, that’s a tough thing for us. But once again, it’s something that we know about now. But we’re still way ahead of where we were last year [as far as injuries], so we’re looking for a normal year, maybe?”

-- Robbi Pickeral