South Alabama defensive tackle Ed Smith is out for the season with a knee injury that will require surgery, head coach Kane Wommack said Monday.

Smith was injured on the final play of a practice earlier this month, Wommack said. The sophomore from Tuscaloosa was expected to be in the rotation on a deep Jaguars defensive line this season, but now will not return until 2024.

“It was just kind of a freak, non-contact injury on the last play of practice, as a matter of fact,” Wommack said. “And so he will undergo surgery here this week. But outside of him, we’re really in a healthy position.”

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Smith played in nine games as a true freshman last season, recording 15 tackles. South Alabama does have two experienced players at the defensive tackle position in senior returning starter Charles Coleman and junior Carlos Johnson, and can also use reserve nose guard Jamall Hickbottom at tackle if needed.

South Alabama opens the season at 7 p.m. Saturday at Tulane in a game to be televised by ESPNU. The Jaguars are around a 6.5-point underdog in the game, according to most online wagering services.