Get to know Geno Smith

What’s in a name?
Tiger Woods, Chipper Jones -- plenty of athletes go by nicknames that you forget aren’t their real names. Geno Smith, the son of Geno Smith Jr. and Tracey Sellers, is actually Eugene Cyril Smith III. |

It runs in the family
Melvin Bratton, former star running back for the Miami Hurricanes, is Smith’s cousin. Bratton was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 1989 NFL Draft but only played two seasons. |

High school days
Smith played his high school football at Miramar High School in Miramar, Fla., where he was coached by former West Virginia Mountaineer Damon Cogdell. Smith threw for 3,089 yards and 32 touchdowns and ended his high school career as the third-best passer in Broward County history. |

College years
In four years at West Virginia and three years as the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback, Geno Smith threw for 11,662 yards and 98 touchdowns, both of which rank in the top 30 in college football since 1977. |

Heisman collapse
Smith was an early favorite for the Heisman Trophy last year. But after a 5-0 start with zero interceptions, he and the Mountaineers dropped their next five as Smith threw five interceptions. |

Second-rounder
In a draft lacking can’t-miss talent at quarterback, Smith was still expected to go in the first round. After the first day of the draft, rumors swirled that Smith was so unhappy about not being a first-round selection that he was going to leave New York. He stayed and was taken by the Jets in the second round with the 39th overall pick. |

Fire away
Shortly after the draft, Smith fired his agents, Erik Burkhardt and Jeff Nalley of Select Sports Group. Smith said his decision to fire his agents was not “because of the whole draft experience,” but he wouldn’t divulge any other information. He later signed with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports. |

Signing day
The Jets signed the 22-year-old Smith to a four-year, $5.019 million contract July 22. |