Almost a year after his last game, this Tigers running back’s return was ‘all gas, no brakes’
University of Memphis running back Sutton Smith, left, celebrates after a touchdown during an Aug. 30, 2025, game against UT Chattanooga. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Last year, Sutton Smith tore his ACL during the Tigers’ first game, and his 2024 season was over in less than 15 minutes of game time. This year, things were different.
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Frank Bonner II
Frank Bonner is the Memphis Tigers football beat writer. He is originally from Indiana but arrived in Memphis after spending two years in Tulsa, covering Oklahoma State football and basketball. He covered high school sports in Columbus, Indiana for two years before getting his Master’s degree in Sports Journalism at IUPUI. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.
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