Can Geno Smith get any bigger this year?

We all know that the West Virginia senior quarterback has been getting all sorts of pre-season accolades.

He is the pre-season Offensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 before the Mountaineers ever play their first game in the new conference. He is a Heisman Trophy candidate and his name comes up on every quarterback award watch list.

So Smith is really big when it comes to the 2012 college football season. However, he is big in stature too.

That’s right – Smith has gained weight heading into his final season at WVU. His physique is more muscular and he has gotten stronger.

WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen said this about Smith’s physical improvement.

“He’s moving around better, his leadership skills are better, his communication is better, his arm strength is better and his body looks better. He’s better,” Holgorsen said, on Smith gaining weight.

If he is better, then Smith could end up with several post season awards.

Just look at what he did last season.

Smith was the Orange Bowl MVP. He’s set or tied 21 WVU single-game, season or career records.

Smith was No. 5 nationally in passing yards per game (a 337 yard average) and eighth in total offense (334). In pass efficiency, he was No. 17 (153). The Mountaineer signal caller threw for 4,385 yards in 13 games, the fourth-best total among all college quarterbacks.

This season Smith will come in at 225 pounds, which gives him a little more strength on his 6-foot-3 frame. Watch for a lot of NFL scouts to be in the press box this season to take a look at the Florida product.

It will be interesting to see what kind of numbers a “bigger” Smith puts up this season in the tougher Big 12 conference.

And believe it or not, he could be even better in 2012.

SHORT STUFF:

If you already have the itch to see some football, several scrimmages are scheduled for this weekend on the high school level.

On Friday night, Belfry will host Boyd County at 7 p.m. at Haywood Field. Then on Saturday, Mingo Central will travel to Lincoln County to play at the old Hamlin High School Field at. Tug Valley will host Logan on Saturday at Naugatuck. That scrimmage will start around 6 p.m. I’m sure other schools throughout the region are participating in scrimmage contests. So head on out and watch your favorite team to get a first look at how your team is getting ready as it prepares to enter the 2012 season.

And finally, it saddened my heart to hear about the death of Larry Venturino earlier this week. Larry loved baseball and was a longtime Williamson Little League coach and umpire. Larry and I coached together and against each other several years ago. We won the 11-12 year old Area Tourney for Williamson one year at Holden. When we saw each other, that topic usually came up. It is a good memory. When Larry saw me, he still called me “coach.”

My sympathy goes out to his family.

(Kyle Lovern is the sports editor for the Williamson Daily News. Comments or story ideas can be sent to klovern@williamsondailynews.com)