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West Virginia inducts Geno Smith, Stedman Bailey, and Tavon Austin into football HoF

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•07/23/22
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College Football: West Virginia head coach Dave Christensen, QB Geno Smith (12), Tavon Austin (1), and teammates outside tunnel before game vs Texas Tech at Jones AT&T Stadium. Lubbock, TX 10/13/2012 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X155618 TK1 R6 F37 )

The West Virginia Mountaineers football program has announced its 2022 Hall of Fame class. The Mountaineers will induct three players into their sports Hall of Fame this year: quarterback Geno Smith, wide receiver Stedman Bailey, and wide receiver/ athlete Tavon Austin.

Smith, Bailey, and Austin made up arguably the most prolific offense in Mountaineers history, led by head coach Dana Holgorsen. The trio ended up leaving the school at the same time, with all three getting picked up in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Smith by the numbers

Smith, a native of Miami, FL, became the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback in 2010, his sophomore season. However, his command of the offense did not fully unfold until the following year when Holgorsen took over. Smith set single-season school records for passing completions (291), attempts (448), and yards (3741). And to end the season, he tied and broke multiple Orange Bowl records at the time in a 70-33 route of the Clemson Tigers. One of the records he broke was Tom Brady’s passing yard record (396) with 401 yards.

Smith finished his career with a completion percentage of 67.4 and adde, 11,662 yards passing, and 98 touchdowns to 21 interceptions.

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Bailey and Austin, by the numbers

Like Smith, Bailey and Austin had breakout years in 2011. The receiver duo accounted for over 2,400 of Smith’s 3,700-plus yards passing. Austin, who also did triple duty as a running back and kick returner, recorded 101 catches for 1,186 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He also added 16 rush attempts for 182 yards, one rushing touchdown, and two kick returns to the house. Bailey recorded 72 catches for 1,279 yards and 12 touchdowns. His blazing speed made him an over-the-top game changer for the Mountaineers as he averaged nearly 18 yards per catch.

The trio accounted for arguably one of the most exciting periods in Mountaineer football history. Despite being unsuccessful in bringing a national championship to Morgantown, WV, they helped put West Virginia football back on the map. And they did it while setting some pretty spectacular records along the way in eye-popping fashion.