PFF Names WVU Legend Geno Smith NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year

Geno Smith earned recognition that could be foreshadowing to winning an individual award for his performance throughout the 2022 NFL season.

Pro Football Focus has named Smith their NFL Comeback Player of the Year. PFF announced that the Seahawks quarterback won the honor a day before he leads Seattle in their NFC Wild Card Round game against the 49ers.

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PFF's Comeback Player of the Year: Geno Smith pic.twitter.com/RdengnKlBL

— PFF (@PFF) January 12, 2023

Smith is considered a favorite for the NFL’s actual award with New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, but winning the title from an outlet like PFF could be a good sign that he will take home the trophy from the NFL too.

No matter how it ends, the comeback story for the WVU Sports Hall of Famer is remarkable to say the least. The 2022 season was Smith’s first as a full-time starting quarterback since 2014. Not only did Smith help the Seahawks reach the postseason, but he did it while being named to the NFC’s Pro Bowl team and putting up statistics that reached historical levels for efficiency.

Smith finished the season throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns only 11 interceptions, completing 69.8% of his passes and posting an 100.9 rating overall. He also ran for 366 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground.

While Smith clearly stood out from all of the rest, he was not the only former Mountaineer to make an impact this NFL season.

A Look at How Former WVU Stars Fared During 2022 NFL Regular Season