Former USC Trojans linebacker Cameron Smith, now with the Minnesota Vikings, announced that doctors found an abnormality in his heart, and he will need to undergo open heart surgery – which will end his 2020 season.
The doctor’s found the abnormality during a screening process for COVID-19, which Smith also tested positive for.
“Earlier this week I found out I need open heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve that I was born with,” Smith wrote. “Although this will unfortunately end my 2020 season, it is really a blessing that we found this as my heart is severely enlarged and wouldn’t have lasted much longer. I found this out after I tested positive for COVID and had to have further testing done as protocol. The Lord works in mysterious ways, but I could really feel him on this one!”
Smith, who appeared in five games for the Vikings last year, primarily on the special teams, remains optimistic that his surgery – while extensive – will not prevent him from playing future after the 2020 season.
“There is a surgery that will allow me to continue to play football as soon as I am healed and cleared and I didn’t think twice about going with that one,” Smith explained. “By no means am I ready to be done playing football, there is still so much more I want to accomplish on the field. Im going to attack this like everything else I have in life. Already looking forward to the comeback!”
Smith was the PAC-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2015 for the Trojans, getting named to the freshman All-American team as well. He ended up being a four-year starter and two-year team captain at USC, totaling 354 tackles and leading the team in tackles for three straight seasons.
We wish him the best of luck as he recovers from COVID-19 and his heart surgery.
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