Geno can be WVU’s next star at QB

West Virginia scrimmaged for more than an hour Saturday, and quarterback Coley White took every snap.

While White finished 12-for-20 for 81 yards, he was relatively ineffective outside passes within 15 yards from scrimmage.

Prior to the 61-play scrimmage, West Virginia's first of the spring, the Mountaineers ran what they calls their "skeleton compete" drill. The offense and defense battle down the field without offensive or defensive linemen.

It's basically a drill focused on the quarterback and his ability to make reads based on what the linebackers and secondary are showing.

Projected starting quarterback Geno Smith led the offense through those drills. In his non-contact green jersey, Smith looked unstoppable.

Smith, of course, is still recovering from breaking a bone in his left foot during the offseason. The Mountaineers moved back spring practice to help the sophomore recover and hopefully have him practice this spring.

It has worked out, as Smith is doing most non-contact work during practices this spring but does not throw during scrimmages.

The sophomore to-be is wearing normal training shoes instead of spikes because of the odd pressure points that spikes can have. He also has an orthotic insert in his shoe for support.

The healing bone doesn't seem to bother him much. He did say his foot feels weak after practices because of the added stress it puts on the bone, though.

Smith's footwork was smooth during "skeleton compete" Saturday. He even jogged up to the next play after a big gain.

What was most impressive was the way Smith was able to conduct the offense down the field.

While there was no pressure in Smith's face, he was able to prove why he was such a highly rated talent coming out of high school.

He hit receiver after receiver right on the mark. It was truly impressive.

"Today was as good of a day as I have seen a Mountaineer quarterback throw the ball in pass skeleton in a long, long time. In the soon-to-be 11 years I have been here," said WVU head coach Bill Stewart after the scrimmage. "Geno was hot. He was hitting the target, his reads were good, and his timing was good. He just looked really good."

Smith found receiver Tavon Austin with a 50-yard touchdown pass during the drill. He seemed to find Austin and tight end Will Johnson wide open for big gains throughout the day.

Johnson caught a short touchdown pass on what would've been a third-and-goal late in the practice period.

Maybe the best part about all of this – Smith was doing this against the Mountaineers' No. 1 defense, against players like safeties Robert Sands and Sidney Glover. Still, Smith would not be denied.

For a WVU offense that is searching for a star at quarterback for the first time since 2005, I would not hesitate to say Smith is the guy – or if he isn't, he will be.

It's hard to truly appreciate what Smith is capable of doing unless you are watching him up close.

He's not necessarily big and tough like last year's starter Jarrett Brown.

He's not as quick and stunning as former Mountaineer quarterback Pat White, either.

What he is, though, is the most accurate passer this program has seen.

He is such a talented pure passer. His wind up has no hitch. His throws rarely resemble ducks.

He has the ability to hit a receiver in stride down the field or hit a running back right on the numbers on a hitch or swing route.

"He's been everything I thought he would be," said receiver Jock Sanders. "He's been everything and more. I can't wait until he gets back out there."

I can't say the same thing about Coley White.

Much has been made of White's last three practices. Realistically, he has been about as good as he has ever been in those practices, making him an obvious story this spring, in a spring of few storylines.

Despite the recent success, White would struggle to win games at quarterback for this team. He just isn't the type of player that can take over this team.

He's a nice athlete with the ability to run, but this offense has outgrown a player like Coley.

Unlike this spring, WVU won't have to split reps between Smith and White.

The Mountaineers can rely on Smith.

Of course, all of his success has come without a 6-foot, 260-pound defensive end right in his face.

We won't know what type of quarterback he will realistically be until he sees that pressure this fall.

If it's anything like he was on Saturday, though, the Mountaineers have a signal caller star for the future.