The countdown of the top 10 list of players of the decade started out with the honorable mention list and now we are moving to the best player of the past decade.
#1 Alex Smith QB Utah (2002-2004)
- All-MWC Second Team (2003)
- All-MWC First Team (2004)
- MWC Offensive player of the year (2004)
- Heisman Finalist (2004)
- Fiesta Bowl MVP (2005)
- First overall draft pick (2005)
As a starter Alex Smith went 21-1 with the loan loss to New Mexico in 2003 and immediately after the game Urban Meyer said that would never happen again at Utah. He was right as the Utes went 12-0 the following year with a Fiesta Bowl win over Pitt. Alex Smith shredded all comers in his two years and ran the spread option perfectly and was part of a revolution in college football.
In his senior year Smith passed for just under 3,000 yards, 32 TD's, 4 picks, and then rushed for 631 yards with 10 scores. Smith made it all looked way too easy especially when running the ball as Smith was not the fastest runner with a modest 4.7 speed. His stats could have been even better had the Utes not dominate their games and subbing in backup Brian Johnson early in the fourth quarter on multiple occasions.
Starting tomorrow the top 10 greatest teams in Mountain West history.