Kyle Smith, a four-year starter at Portland State and one of the Big Sky Conference’s top NFL prospects, has passed away according to multiple reports.
The Portland Tribune first reported Smith’s death at 7:11 a.m. on Thursday morning after Portland State Athletic department officials confirmed the tragedy. No cause of death is listed. PSU’s scheduled Thursday morning football practice has been called off and the team is scheduled to meet with the coaching staff.
The death is the second tragic loss for the Vikings in 2016. In January, promising redshirt freshman outside linebacker A.J. Schlatter, a walk-on turned starter, died of complications from tonsil surgery.
At 1:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, PSU senior quarterback and captain Alex Kuresa tweeted “Been through more than any team should have to go through. Rest in Peace Kyle.”
PSU offensive tackle Kyle Smith blocks MSU defensive end Jessie Clark
That same morning, former PSU linebacker Zack Berg, a senior in 2015, tweeted “A big guy that put a smile on your face with a big heart. You will be missed. You are with AJ now my brother.”
“Probably one of the goofiest and most easy-going kids I’ve ever met. Been a pleasure getting to know you (the) last five years big fella,” PSU tight end Cam Sommer posted.
“Came in to PSU with my dawg smitty, feels like yesterday,” wide receiver Paris Penn wrote on Twitter. “Can’t believe my guy is gone.”
Smith, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound senior, earned All-Big Sky Conference honors each of the last two seasons including a second-team nod as a junior in 2015. The Elmira, Oregon native broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and started all 36 games of his career. Last season, he spearheaded an offensive line that helped PSU to 419.6 yards, including more than 250 rushing yards per outing, and 34.2 points per game, en route to a 9-3 record and a berth in the FCS playoffs, just the second in Portland State history.
PSU offensive tackle Kyle Smith/PSU Athletics
Former Portland State head coach Nigel Burton consistently touted Smith as one of the most athletic, fluid linemen playing on any front in the league.
“Kyle Smith is a phenom,” Burton said in 2014. “There’s the great chance that he may go down as one of the best if not the best offensive linemen in the history of our school if he continues to develop.”
Smith’s potential continued to rise before last season.
“He’ is going to be dominant,” second-year head coach Bruce Barnum said before the 2015 season. “He’s got all the off-the-field stuff down. Now he’s just got to work on the basic fundamentals but honestly mostly taking over the game.”
It is unknown when spring football will resume or if it will at PSU, a school spokesman told the Portland Tribune.
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or noted. All Rights Reserved.
