West Virginia Professional Athletes

Two WVU Alums, One Ugly Sideline Moment

West Virginia has produced some of the NFL's most compelling pass-catchers and signal-callers over the years. This week, two of them ended up on the same viral clip — and not in the way either would have preferred.

Geno Smith and Garrett Wilson, both Mountaineer products now sharing a huddle with the New York Jets, were caught in a heated sideline exchange during New York's 28-25 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. With roughly eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Wilson — visibly animated — was seen going face-to-face with Smith and assistant coaches on the bench. The cameras caught everything. The internet did the rest.

The numbers make Wilson's frustration easy to understand. Despite Smith throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns, Wilson finished with just two catches on three targets for 26 yards. For a receiver of his caliber, getting that kind of statistical burial in a loss to a struggling Dolphins team was a combustible combination.

What They Said After

Both players moved quickly to cool the temperature post-game. Wilson clarified that his frustration wasn't aimed at Smith personally — he pointed to New York's red-zone play-calling as the source of his irritation. Smith, for his part, responded calmly, downplaying the exchange and signaling that the relationship between the two remained intact.

Head coach Aaron Glenn backed them both up, calling the sideline moment "overblown" and reaffirming the team's commitment to getting Wilson more involved. "We want to get him the ball," Glenn said flatly.

Whether that's organizational damage control or genuine confidence in the offensive scheme is a question Week 8 will start to answer. CBS Sports' bold predictions for the upcoming week specifically flagged a Wilson-Smith reconnection game as one to watch when the Jets host the Las Vegas Raiders — a matchup that also carries personal stakes for Smith, who previously played in Las Vegas.

The Bigger Picture for Smith

Smith's stat line against Miami was genuinely solid on the surface — three touchdown passes and nearly 290 yards represent a productive afternoon by most measures. The interception and the loss, however, kept the Jets at 2-5, and the offense's continued failure to deploy Wilson as a true focal point remains the loudest question hanging over New York's season.

With the Raiders coming to town in Week 8 on a four-game losing streak, the Jets have a clear opportunity to reset. Smith, who is reportedly motivated by a "revenge game" narrative against his former team, will need to make sure Wilson is part of the script this time.

Elsewhere in Mountaineer Country

Away from the drama in New York, David Sills V and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolled to a dominant 43-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Specific stat contributions from the WVU wideout weren't detailed in the box score, but the blowout win keeps Tampa Bay trending in the right direction.

Meanwhile, Zach Frazier continues to build a quiet legend in Pittsburgh. One Steelers teammate went so far as to suggest the WVU center is on a path to becoming the greatest in franchise history — a lofty claim, but one that reflects the growing respect Frazier has earned in the locker room since being drafted.

Three WVU alumni. Three different stories. One week.

West Virginia's most prominent NFL name right now isn't just playing football — he's making headlines off the field, too.

Geno Smith, the Mountaineers' most recognizable pro product, found himself at the center of an NFL disciplinary decision this week after taking a hit that the league deemed worthy of punishment. The league announced action against the offending player in what amounted to a league-wide acknowledgment that Smith — back under center in New York — is being watched closely, for better and worse.

On the field, Sunday's result was a tough one. The Jets dropped to 2-4 with a 26-19 loss at New England, a game in which Smith threw for 252 yards and a touchdown but also tossed his first interception of the season. It was an otherwise mostly composed performance in a losing effort — Smith had avoided the pick column until that point — but the Jets' record tells a complicated story about a team still searching for consistency around their quarterback.

The Jets' upcoming matchup with Miami adds another layer of intrigue. With the Dolphins coming out of their bye week, Jets insiders have been candid about Smith's role as both the team's engine and its most scrutinized figure. His ability to manage a struggling offense while absorbing physical punishment — and now league-level attention over that punishment — puts the West Virginia product in a spotlight he's no stranger to.

Frazier Making Noise in Pittsburgh

Across the state of Pennsylvania, another Mountaineer is earning his own set of headlines. Center Zach Frazier has had, by multiple accounts, a tremendous start to the 2026 season for the Steelers. The former West Virginia anchor has been one of Pittsburgh's more dependable pieces up front, drawing praise in the team's weekly notes heading into late October. For a Steelers offensive line searching for stability, Frazier has been a consistent bright spot — and a quiet source of Mountaineer pride in the league.

The Broader WVU Footprint

Beyond Smith and Frazier, West Virginia continues to field one of the deeper alumni rosters in the NFL, with former Mountaineers spread across more than a dozen franchises. Cornerback Rasul Douglas is in Washington, Dante Stills is rotating along Arizona's defensive front, and names like Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Giants), David Sills (Buccaneers), and Kyzir White (Titans) keep the Morgantown pipeline active across all three phases of the game.

The story this week, though, begins and ends with Geno Smith — a player navigating scrutiny, physical punishment, and a team that needs him to be more than solid. At 2-4, the Jets don't have much margin. Neither does he.

Geno Smith Is Making Noise in New York — Again

It wasn't always pretty, but West Virginia's most prominent NFL quarterback is making a case that he belongs.

Geno Smith orchestrated a 17-12 Jets win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, finishing with 182 passing yards, a touchdown, and the kind of fourth-quarter composure that's turning heads across the league. The signature moment came when Smith auditioned to a 22-yard game-winning touchdown run by running back Braelon Allen on third-and-9 — a call that drew immediate praise from Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who credited Smith's football IQ for reading the defensive look and pulling the trigger.

The victory wasn't without controversy. Browns defensive end Jared Verse was not flagged after lowering the crown of his helmet into Smith's head during the game. Smith publicly called on the NFL to review the play and issue discipline — a sign of the veteran QB's growing comfort asserting himself both on and off the field.

The buzz around Smith isn't staying inside the Jets' facility, either. Comments from New England Patriots offensive coordinator Zak Kuhr about Smith are picking up steam ahead of the Jets-Patriots showdown, with Kuhr reportedly acknowledging Smith as a legit threat the defense will have to account for. Smith is also said to carry a schematic familiarity advantage heading into that matchup — a subplot worth tracking as the week develops.

The larger narrative is the connection forming between Smith and receiver Garrett Wilson. Their pairing is being watched closely as the barometer for how far this Jets offense can realistically go. Smith hit Wilson for the game's opening score — the Jets' first first-quarter touchdown since Week 1 — and the duo's rapport appears to be deepening each week.

For Mountaineer faithful who remember Smith's complicated tenure with the Jets the first time around, the reunion is playing out remarkably well.

David Sills V on the Doorstep of a Return

In Tampa, another WVU product is working his way back.

Buccaneers wide receiver David Sills V has been designated to return from injured reserve, with the team opening his 21-day practice window on Monday. Sills, who has dealt with a hamstring issue, now has three weeks to prove he's ready to be activated to the 53-man roster.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills in 2019, Sills has carved out a career through persistence. His return would add depth to a Tampa receiving corps that also includes fellow Mountaineer Garrett Greene on the roster.

Douglas Holding His Own in Washington

Rasul Douglas, the veteran cornerback now with the Washington Commanders, continued his solid stretch of play. Douglas has posted four passes defensed and an interception on the season — quiet but consistent production from a player who's been a professional journeyman done right. Washington and the Giants played to a 27-27 draw on Sunday, with Douglas doing his part in coverage.

Three WVU alumni making legitimate contributions in Week 5. Morgantown has reason to tune in.