Aztecs wide receiver Kobe Smith sidelined after auto accident

San Diego State wide receiver Kobe Smith was involved in a serious auto accident last week that prevented him from playing against Towson and puts his availability in question for the remainder of the season.

SDSU head coach Brady Hoke said the accident occurred when Smith was driving to campus Sept. 19, a day after the Aztecs’ victory over Utah.

“He was coming here for his check-in after the game, everybody comes to see the trainers, and got T-boned,” said Hoke, adding, “You look at the car. You look at the pictures. It could have been really bad.”

Smith had a bandage over his right eye, a wrap on his left hand to support a ring finger and pinky that were splinted and walked with a slight limp as he watched teammates go through abbreviated workouts Monday and Tuesday.

SDSU (4-0) has a bye this week before opening Mountain West play Oct. 9 against New Mexico.

“He’s doing OK right now,” Hoke said.

Asked about Smith’s potential return to the lineup, Hoke said, “I don’t think we’re thinking yet down the road for his return.”

Hoke said that SDSU football operations specialist Craig Smith and wide receivers coach Hunkie Cooper came to Kobe Smith’s aid at the accident scene, which was just off campus.

Smith, a 6-foot-2 senior from Compton, was not available for comment. Additional details on the accident were not immediately available.

Smith has been among SDSU’s top receivers since coming to campus, cracking the lineup as a true freshman in 2018 when he played in 12 of the team’s 13 games.

He led all receivers a year later with 58 receptions for 691 yards and four touchdowns.

Smith has two receptions this season for 28 yards. He needs just 46 yards to reach 1,000 career receiving yards.

QB or not QB?

SDSU quarterback Jordon Brookshire appears to be progressing well from the right ankle injury that sidelined him the past two games.

Backup Lucas Johnson led SDSU to wins over Utah and Towson, although Brookshire is expected to be ready to return when the Aztecs meet New Mexico.

Hoke was not ready to commit to which quarterback will start against the Lobos.

“Jordon has made some great progress,” Hoke said during a news conference before Tuesday afternoon’s practice. “Thought he threw the ball pretty good (Monday). As we move forward, we’ll make sure we nail it down.”

Boom, boom, boom

Matt Araiza’s 55.1-yard punting average leads the nation this season, and it puts him on course for a single-season NCAA record.

Araiza is well ahead of Michigan State’s Bryce Baringer (53.2), Colorado State’s Ryan Stonehouse (51.7), BYU’s Ryan Renkow (51.5) and Rutgers’ Adam Korsek (50.3), who round out the top five.

Araiza increased his national lead after averaging 65.7 yards on three punts in last week’s win over Towson, earning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.

The junior from Rancho Bernardo High could potentially smash the single-season college punting record, which was established in 2018 by Texas A&M’s Braden Mann (51.0).

Injury update

SDSU practiced briefly Monday and Tuesday and running back Greg Bell (shoulder) was an active participant, catching footballs launched high in the sky from the ball machine and taking some handoffs.

It bodes well for Bell, who carried just twice against Towson before leaving early in the first quarter with the injury.

Cornerbacks Tayler Hawkins (knee) and Dallas Branch (broken fingers) also took part in drills.

Hawkins, who missed last week’s game, wore a left knee brace as he went through his paces. Branch, who has not played this season, wore a club on his left hand.

Linebacker Andrew Aleki (knee) was limping slightly, but was put through his paces without a knee brace on.