Minnesota Football: Brian Smith dismissed for a violation of team rules

Head coach Tracy Claeys announced this morning that starting wide receiver Brian Smith has been dismissed from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules. Smith was a junior walk-on from Milwaukee who ranked second on the team 17 catches for 279 yards and a touchdown. His breakout game came against Penn State, when Smith hauled in seven receptions for 101 receiving yards.

Fortunately, the Gophers have a stable of walk-on wide receivers to lean on with Smith no longer on the roster. Walk-on wideouts Adam Mayer and Matt Morse both traveled with the team to Illinois last week, along with Smith and four scholarship wide receivers. Neither has recorded a catch in their careers as a Gopher.

On the depth chart, Eric Carter is the next man up. He now backs up Rashad Still AND shares a starting spot with true freshman Tyler Johnson. Now that’s what I call a dynamic wide receiver. Carter has two catches for 17 yards on the season.

No word on whether or not redshirt sophomore wide receivers Melvin Holland, Jr. or Isaiah Gentry will be able to at least travel with the team now. They won’t see the field, but at least they’d have the opportunity to sightsee. It’s the little things in life.