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Michigan State’s Tyson Smith reveals he suffered a stroke in 2016
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Bumps and bruises, even broken bones and torn muscles are a part of football. Those are the typical risks that come with playing the sport at any level.
So while several Michigan State players were dealing with those issues last season, there was one who went through a much more severe situation in 2016. One that’s almost unimaginable for a college athlete.
On Thursday morning, Spartans CB Tyson Smith revealed he suffered a stroke a year ago, making the announcement via Twitter:
I'm "supposed "to be in a wheelchair after that stroke last year doctors say I'm blessed to still be able to walk ,talk , and run! Fast fed pic.twitter.com/esjfYSdkfk
— Tyson Smith (@_Giovanni15) May 18, 2017
There were no further details regarding the stroke or when it happened. Michigan State kept Smith’s condition a secret until the CB made the announcement six months after the season ended.
And he just so happened to make the announcement on his birthday.
Fast forward it's my birthday and I couldn't be happier to see it
— Tyson Smith (@_Giovanni15) May 18, 2017
Smith played in eight games for the Spartans as a sophomore, recording 13 tackles, 1.5 stops for loss and four pass break-ups. He missed the final three games of the year, but Mark Dantonio didn’t disclose a reason why Smith was absent.
Smith is expected to be competing for a starting CB job in 2017.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB