Geno Smith set 33 Mountaineer game, season, class and career records as WVU's quarterback, from 2009 through 2012. Courtesy photo

MORGANTOWN — The most glamorous position on a football team is often the quarterback. Passing, running, leadership and media attention, the quarterback seems to be a magnet as he draws the attention of the public.

Teams without a statistical wizard at quarterback are usually found struggling to win games or win hearts.

West Virginia University (WVU) has a long and ever-growing list of excellent passers, runners and even dual threat players.

Do the Mountaineers have such a player this season who might be mentioned with Pat White, Major Harris, Jeff Hostetler, Marc Bulger or Geno Smith?

When such players as Jake Kelchner, Darren Studstill, Skyler Howard and Fred Wyant are not recognized among the Top 10 of Mountaineer greats at the position, you know some real giants have been at the helm of WVU teams.

Pat White ran and passed his way to the list of Heisman Trophy possibilities in his 2005-2008 seasons as a near-Super Man in blue and gold. He ran for 4,480 yards as the Mountaineers chased national attention and then caught it because of his many contributions.

Major Harris was revered from his beginnings. He was from Pittsburgh and WVU people could jam him down the throats of the reviled Panthers public.

His 1988 team was 11-0 and playing for the national championship, when he was injured in the first quarter of the ultimate game, Harris’ most time-honored run came against Penn State when the Mountaineers defeated the Nittany Lions for one of the few times.

Eventually the son-in-law of Coach Don Nehlen, transfer Jeff Hostetler (from Penn State) played for WVU for only two seasons, but he threw for 4,045 yards and 24 touchdowns as the team went 18-6. Hostetler distinguished himself in the NFL.

High on the all-time yardage and passing touchdowns list is Marc Bulger. He made his name in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, after four years in Morgantown that saw him throw for 8,153 yards and complete 59 TD passes.

The athletic Geno Smith (WVU from 2009-2012) is still collapsing defenses in the NFL. Mostly an escape artist when being chased by defenses, Smith continues to frustrate teams attempting to beat him. In one college game, Smith strafed a defense to the tune of 45 completions in 51 pass attempts.

Running and throwing his way to three consecutive bowl games was Rasheed Marshall (2001-2004). Even broken plays had him in the defense’s secondary threatening to run for another score.

Known for his administrative duties after graduation, Oliver Luck threw for 5,765 yards and 43 career scores before he actually became the athletic director at WVU.

Somewhat forgotten is Mike Sherwood (1968-1970), whose three teams never lost more than three games in any season.

Another statistical leader was Chad Johnston (1993-1996) who passed for 5,954 yards in his time in Morgantown.

Another native of Pennsylvania was Bernie Galiffa, who eventually settled in Wheeling and sadly passed away at age 63. He was a WVU stalwart from 1968-1972.

Transfer Will Grier came from Florida and was troubled by injuries when a Mountaineer quarterback. Grier is currently in the NFL and was a backup quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.

WVU couldn’t be labeled as a Magnet for Quarterbacks, but few places have had such a spicy variety of crowd pleasers with statistical histories of career production.