From Morgantown, W.Va., to Broward County, Fla., they were laughing their rear ends off recently when a writer for Pro Football Weekly criticized Geno Smith as not being a student of the game.
His teammates at West Virginia, and his prep coach at Miramar High School know the story of how Smith responded to a 47-21 loss against LSU in 2011, a game in which the quarterback threw for 463 yards on 38-of-65 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
At a little after 1 a.m. the morning of Sept. 25, 2011, Smith called his mother, Tracy Sellers. Smith told his mother he was outside the Mountaineers football facility. He had taken a short break from studying film of the game and was about to go back in for more study.
“He’s always been a perfectionist,’’ Sellers told The Post in a recent interview. “I worry about him being too hard on himself. Whatever it is, football, schoolwork, his artwork, he’s always been a perfectionist.’’
The quarterback the Jets picked in the second of the NFL Draft and the player who might become the face of the franchise, will not fail for a lack of preparation or maturity.
“On and off the field you won’t find a better teammate or person. Geno is respected because he expects so much out of himself,” said West Virginia wide receiver Stedman Bailey, who was selected in the third round by the Rams.
Smith already has made important decisions, choosing to attend Miramar instead of enrolling at Norland Middle School’s magnet program for artistically gifted young people.
Smith can be an artist on the field and is one off it. He doesn’t have a favorite artists but has studied all of the greats.
“I oftentimes think I’m going nuts because I’m just this perfectionist and I find something wrong in everything,’’ he told The Post this season. “I critique myself to the point where I don’t even think I’m a good player. But other people say I’m pretty good, so that’s what keeps me afloat.’’
The criticism he is not a student of the game didn’t ruffle Smith in the least. He is the oldest of four children and is the role model for his brother Geonte, a star receiver at Miramar High and twin brother Ranny and sister, Riany, 14.
Smith credits his mother for pushing him to excel.
He tweeted a line from Jay-Z in her honor Thursday: “‘I go to my grave with the memories of the sacrifices you made, you deserve a standing ovation’ Momma I made it !!!!”
— Kathleen Briquelet contributed
to this report.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com