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Michigan State Football: CB Tyson Smith retires, stays with program

By Connor Muldowney

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 17: Torii Hunter Jr. #16 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass in front of Tyson Smith #15 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan State defeated Notre Dame 36-28. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 17: Torii Hunter Jr. #16 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass in front of Tyson Smith #15 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan State defeated Notre Dame 36-28. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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After a health scare in 2016, Tyson Smith returned to Michigan State football in 2017, but is retiring ahead of the 2018 campaign.

Tyson Smith had a health scare that you wouldn’t wish on any young athlete. The then-sophomore cornerback suffered a stroke in the midst of a nightmare season for Michigan State, adding some stress to the locker room as his teammates played with heavy hearts.

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He made a return in 2017 and kicked the season off with a bang, but was ultimately passed up by younger guys on the depth chart, and that looked to be a continuing trend ahead of 2018. However, due to health concerns, Smith decided to call it a career.

Smith posted his ‘farewell letter’ on Twitter Thursday, officially announcing his retirement due to health reasons but stating he will remain with the program.

“Last year was a blessing to me and my family both on and off the field, but for some odd reason I knew it would be my last time strapping up and stepping on the field with my dawgs,” Smith admitted. “Due to health issues I will not be able to continue playing as I would like.”

Details of Smith’s health concerns surfaced right before the 2017 season as he admitted he had a stroke in the middle of the tumultuous 2016 season.

Smith came to Michigan State as a highly-regarded in-state recruit, but was buried on the depth chart early, had health issues in 2016 and found himself behind some younger guys in 2017. He still had the feel-good moment of the season when he picked off a pass in his first game back from his stroke and returned it for a touchdown against Bowling Green.

There’s toughness and then there’s what Smith brought to the green and white. He had a ‘never quit’ attitude and when most kids would call it a career, he decided to give it one more shot and fight his way back to the field, only to record a pick-six in his first action since the scare.

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The now-former cornerback thanked Mark Dantonio for giving him a chance and he also stated that the head coach is keeping him around as his role changes. He’s looking forward to life after football, which he said Michigan State did a great job of preparing him. Sad to see a promising career end too soon.

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