Utah Legend Alex Smith Talks Cam Rising, Bryson Barnes On Pat McAfee Show
Oct 27, 2023, 11:28 AM
SALT LAKE CITY – If there is one person on the planet that understands what Utah quarterback Cam Rising is going through, it would be former Utah quarterback Alex Smith.
Smith popped into the Pat McAfee show Friday morning to discuss both Rising, and Bryson Barnes, injuries and what it’s like being QB1 at that level.
Smith was a key component of the Utes’ exponential growth in college football as the starting quarterback in Utah’s first undefeated, “BCS Busting” season.
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— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 27, 2023
Alex Smith Talks Injury Recovery, Cam Rising & Bryson Barnes With Pat McAfee
Smith was very open with his praise of Utah’s injured QB1 noting he’s had opportunities to work with Rising in the past due to NIL. Smith also drew a small comparison to his horrific injury and what Rising is currently going through with his knee.
“Cam and I know each other well, get along great,” Smith said. “I think he’s a great kid. The crazy thing with NIL now is that you’re doing marketing deals with these guys in college. Appearances and stuff. Cam is a great kid, man. He’s taken us to back-to-back Rose Bowls. He’ll be in the lore of Utah forever. I think as we all learned- his knee injury was way worse than we thought. That was a much bigger surgery that he went through, and I know we were all hopeful he could come back this year, but his health is most important.”
You’re an inspiration to ALL of us..
“I was scared as hell running back out on that football field and I’m grateful I got to work through that process..
I’m so much of a better dad because of that”
Alex Smith #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/yvlmaOiKGx
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 27, 2023
Smith went on that he hasn’t had a chance to speak with Rising since he shut things down for the year while also expressing complete confidence in the next man up, Bryson Barnes.
“I haven’t talked to him since he got shutdown for the season,” Smith said. “I know he’s frustrated but again, hopefully he can come back healthy. Who knows what the future holds for him, but we’ve got the pig farmer at QB and he’s not scared.”
“I’m glad you brought up pessimism,” Smith said. “That’s what rehab is filled with- doubt. Doubt that you’ll ever be the same. Doubt that you’ll ever reach your goals and for me- forget football. It was doubt that I’d ever be able to play with my kids and chase after them, play catch with them and like go on a walk with my wife. That entire process is filled with that. You build up these walls with all of these things that you’ll never be able to do again and that is part of the process of working through those.”
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on X, Instagram, and Threads: @BodkinKSLsports
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