College Football: West Virginia's Geno Smith Named to Another Watch List

West Virginia quarterback, Eugene (Geno) Smith has been named to a third award’s watch list.

To start things off this preseason, Smith was named as a player to watch for the Maxwell Award—The Maxwell Football Club’s college player of the year award.

Late last week Smith was—to many a surprise—added to the Davey O’Brien watch list.  The Davey O’Brien award is given to the nation’s best college quarterback.   

The list includes names such as: Case Keenum, Matt Barkley, Kellen Moore and Andrew Luck as well as two more Big East players—Cincinnati’s Zach Collaros and Tino Sunseri of Pitt.

Smith learned today that he is also a candidate for the Walter Camp Award along with Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, TCU’s Tank Carder, Oregon running back, LaMichael James, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones and Michigan’s Denard Robinson.

Last year Auburn’s Cam Newton took home all three of these trophies—over the likes of some of this year’s prospects—Moore, Luck and Keenum. 

The fact that Smith has caught the eye of these three organizations is quite encouraging for the average Mountaineer fan. 

Following a less than admirable spring—with respects to morale—WVU can use this as pat on the back. Moreover, the gold and blue faithful can use it as a sort of makeup for the minor black eyes that were trying to emerge.

Mountaineer football may be changing just a little. However, at least the changes are causing some attention to be cast upon those who deserve it.

Geno Smith is one of the most knowledgeable college football players in recent memory. 

The first interview I ever heard him take part in caused me to realize what kind of player he is.

He impressed me with what he talked about. 

It wasn't about throwing the ball or running the ball. It was about learning how to do all things better. 

He jabbered off formations and play calls and sets and a bunch of other football terminology that I had never heard come from a college freshman’s lips. He had me at “Uh, ya know…”. 

He has proven that he knew what he was talking about.

Now, with the knowledge that Dana Holgorsen brings to the Mountain State, Smith can prove it to the entire college football nation.

Congratulations, Geno!  See ya at the Heisman presentation.