There are a few names that WVU football fans will always look back upon with fond memories. At the quarterback position in particular, Geno Smith and Pat White are at the top of the list.
Now, Smith and White find themselves at the top of another list, this one released by ESPN detailing a ranking of the top 100 quarterbacks of the 2000s – proving that the two legendary WVU gunslingers made quite the impact on not just the West Virginia Mountaineers, but on college football as a whole.
Geno Smith, Pat White listed as top CFB quarterbacks by ESPN
Smith came in on the list at No. 79 overall, sandwiched in between Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden at No. 80 and Georgia's David Greene at No. 78.
"A perfect template for Dana Holgorsen's air-it-out attack in the early 2010s, Smith led WVU to an Orange Bowl title in 2011 and briefly into the top 10 in 2012, producing seven 400-yard games along the way," wrote ESPN's Bill Connelly.
Smith played with WVU from 2009-2012, finishing his career with 11,662 passing yards and 98 passing touchdowns to just 21 interceptions. He was a three-time all-conference selection, the 2012 Orange Bowl MVP, and the 2012 NCAA passing touchdowns leader with 42.
White came in at No. 32 on the list, just ahead of Miami (OH) legend Ben Roethlisberger and below NC State and Wisconsin star Russell Wilson. It is the second top quarterbacks of the 2000s list he has made recently.
Few tandems have left more of a mark than Pat White and Steve Slaton did. From 2005-07, the duo combined for 7,429 rushing yards, 89 rushing TDs, a 33-5 record and two BCS bowl wins. Only injuries could slow White in Rich Rodriguez's system," Connelly wrote.
White led the Mountaineers to a 4-0 bowl record and 35-8 overall record as a starter from 2005-2008, capturing two BCS bowl victories for the program. He finished his career with 6,049 passing yards, 56 passing touchdowns, 4,480 rushing yards, and 47 rushing touchdowns, making him just the second player in NCAA history with 4,000+ rushing yards and 5,000+ passing yards in their career.
White, who is currently an assistant for the Mountaineers under his former college coach Rich Rodriguez, also has the second-most rushing yards of any FBS quarterback in history, behind Denard Robinson of Michigan (who also played as a tailback). He currently ranks second in program history for career passing touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns, and fourth in program history in passing yards.