By Associated Press - Tuesday, February 11, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - NFL quarterback Alex Smith will deliver commencement speech at the University of Utah’s spring graduation ceremony.

The University announced Tuesday that Smith will be the keynote speaker at the May 1 ceremony. University president David W. Pershing says Smith is an example of class and persistence.

Smith starred for the Utes a decade ago, going 21-1 as a starting quarterback and leading the team a 2005 Fiesta Bowl win. He earned a bachelor’s in economics from the university.

He was the first overall pick in the NFL draft that year by the San Francisco 49ers. He struggled with that team until finally having success in 2011-2012 before losing his job to upstart Colin Kaepernick.

He was traded to Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 and led the team to the playoffs.

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