The Utah Utes will become the latest school to enshrine its athletes in a Ring of Honor.
The school announced the news in a release Monday, along with announcing that former Utah quarterback and first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Alex Smith, will be the inaugural inductee. Smith will be enshrined during Utah’s home opener on August 29 against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.
Alex Smith will be inducted into the Utah Football Ring of Honor at halftime of the 2024 home opener against Southern Utah University on Aug. 29th. 🙌
🎟️: https://t.co/3bcL8PReol#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/AwqBWWh7sO
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 19, 2024
The release also notes the criteria for enshrinement, which will feature two athletes per season after this inaugural class; the criteria include at least one of “owning school records, being a consensus All-American, playing 10 or more years in the NFL and coaching a team to at least two conference championships, among others.”
Smith was a first-team All-American in 2004 and spent 15 seasons in the NFL. He played for Utah from 2002-04, and his 2004 season was a big reason why Utah went 12-0, and Smith was named Mountain West Player of the Year. The quarterback threw for 2,952 yards and 32 touchdowns with just four interceptions to lead the Utes to a Fiesta Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Smith is also being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame later this year.
