WVU Legend Geno Smith Named Seahawks Starting QB Against Steelers

A variation of this story by Nick Farabaugh originally appeared on our sister site Steelers Now.

Mountaineer legend Geno Smith will start against the Steelers in their preseason game on Saturday, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll announced on Tuesday.

Pete Carroll says Geno Smith is starting at QB for Seahawks Saturday at Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/hJ5LqaeiFG

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 9, 2022

In the latest depth chart that the Seahawks released, it was Smith who was the number one quarterback on the depth chart above Drew Lock and others. As such, it comes as no surprise that Smith will be the starter come Saturday in their first preseason contest.

Geno Smith was Russell Wilson’s backup last season. When Wilson went down with a finger injury, it was Smith who stepped up in his place and started three games. One of those games included a contest against the Steelers, where the Seahawks would lose 23-20. Smith went 23 of 32 for 209 yards and a touchdown and fumbled on the last drive of the loss in overtime on a T.J. Watt strip sack.

Overall, Smith started three games for Seattle last season and appeared in four total after Wilson was injured. He put up solid numbers, completing 68 percent of his passes for 702 yards, five touchdowns and an interception while adding nine runs for 42 yards and a touchdown. He was 1-2 though in his three starts.

The uncertainty of each team’s quarterback battles adds plenty of intrigue to the game. Both teams have two new quarterbacks in the room with a veteran who has been there for multiple years. The Seahawks brought in Lock and Jacob Eason while the Steelers added Trubisky and Kenny Pickett with Mason Rudolph.

Since there are only three preseason games now in the NFL, each game is crucial in deciding who the starting quarterback will be for both teams. For someone like Smith, it feels good to at least get the first crack at it. Smith will try to use the veteran knowledge that he possesses to lead Seattle’s offense on Saturday.

Smith was inducted to the WVU Athletics Hall of Fame recently. He remains as one of the most prolific players in school history as the all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns leader with 11,662 yards and 98 touchdowns. He played from 2009-12 before being a second round selection by the New York Jets.