LSU Star Fully Cleared To Return Ahead of 2023 Season-Opener Against FSU Football

There's a lot of anticipation building as Florida State fans wait for the 2023 college football season to kick off in September. The Seminoles will be tested out of the gate as the team prepares for a rematch against the LSU Tigers in Orlando.

Last season, FSU traveled to New Orleans to take on LSU in the Caesars Dome. The Seminoles came out on top 24-23 following a blocked extra point attempt by Shyheim Brown with no time remaining on the clock.

Entering the matchup in 2022, neither team was ranked with Florida State at the beginning of its turnaround and LSU breaking in a new head coach. That will be much different when the Seminoles and Tigers take the field this go-around due to the amount of talent and experience returning on both sides.

On Sunday, LSU learned that star defensive tackle Maason Smith was fully cleared to return to football activities. Smith suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter against the Seminoles after landing awkwardly while celebrating a tackle.

This is a positive sign that he's in a position to return against Florida State after being limited during spring camp.

The Return pic.twitter.com/bpqo7QV6q5
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) May 21, 2023

The former-five star prospect showed promise during his first season with the Tigers. He appeared in nine games, with four starts, and recorded 19 tackles, four tackles for loss, and four sacks. Smith was expected to be one of LSU's most dominant defensive linemen before going down in 2022.

LSU's front-seven has an opportunity to be among the best in the country with Smith back in the lineup. His skillset alongside defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo, defensive end Ovie Oghoufo, defensive end Sai'vion Jones, defensive end Quency Wiggins, and linebacker Harold Perkins could create problems for opposing offenses.

Florida State and LSU are scheduled to face off on Sunday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m. from Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the offseason.

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