Alex Smith inducted into Utah Football Ring of Honor

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – Former Utah quarterback Alex Smith will make history at halftime of the Utes season opener against Southern Utah, as he will become the first player ever to be inducted into the new Utah Football Ring of Honor.

“The amount of pride I have for this program, and to have been a part of it now as an alumni, it’s changed my life and I’m so incredibly grateful for it,” Smith said before the ceremony. “I’m so proud of where the program’s coming and is continuing to go.”

Smith quarterbacked Utah to an undefeated season in 2004, capped by a historic Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh, when Utah became the first BCS-bowl busting team.

In two years as the starter at Utah, Smith threw for 5,203 passing yards and 47 touchdowns, adding 1,072 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores.

He went on to become the #1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, and played 16 seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, Kansas City and Washington.

“I’m overwhelmed with pride for all those accomplishments, and everything that this program’s done,” Smith said. “To find out that it’s going to be my name going up first is so incredibly humbling. It’s overwhelming. I’ve been emotional ever since I found out.”

Smith is the first inductee, but the Utes will induct two players every year hereafter into the Ring of Honor.

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