Ex-Nebraska football QB hits roadblock in resurgent season

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Logan Smothers #8 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs from defensive end Taylor Riggins #41 of the Buffalo Bulls in the second half at Memorial Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Logan Smothers #8 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers runs from defensive end Taylor Riggins #41 of the Buffalo Bulls in the second half at Memorial Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

A former Nebraska football quarterback who seemed to have found a place where he could really excel had his season hit a bit of a snag on Tuesday.

When Logan Smothers left the Nebraska football program, there were plenty of people who wondered whether he was going to find a school that would allow him to have the playing time he clearly craved. It turns out the answer was yes.

Smothers landed at Jacksonville State and has helped lead the Rich Rodriguez-led Gamecocks to a 5-2 start to the season. Unfortunately, it looks like the former Nebraska football quarterback has hit a snag as he was injured in his new team’s most recent game on Tuesday night.

Smothers left 31-13 loss to Liberty early after completing just 8-of-18 passes for 115 yards and an interception. The former Huskers added 8 carries for 13 yards and a touchdown. However, it’s not clear if he’s going to be able to try and get redemption next week.

On Wednesday night, Pete Thamel reported that Smothers suffered a sprained ankle. While it’s not the high ankle sprain that Jeff Sims suffered, Nebraska football fans still know that it can take a while to come back from that particular kind of hurt.

Former Nebraska football quarterback’s season in jeopardy

The injury to Smothers wasn’t the only one to a Jacksonville State quarterback. Zion Webb, who has split time with the ex-Nebraska football player all season, is also hurt. He suffered a concussion against Liberty, and there’s no timetable for his return.

The injury is quite the setback for Smothers, who was certainly proving that he can get the job done on the FBS level, even if it’s Group of 5.

On the season, the Alabama native has hit 56.9 percent of his passes for 638 yards, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He’s also run for 253 yards and 6 touchdowns. Like Sims, his running ability is a big part of what makes him dangerous, so that ankle injury could affect his return time more than it would for a drop-back passer.

With the Nebraska football team in 2021 and 2022, Smothers threw for 413 yards, 0 touchdowns, and an interception while running for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns.