The Graz Giants of the Austrian Football League have signed graduated Linfield All-American Wyatt Smith for the 2023 season. The 24-year-old quarterback spent last spring playing professionally with the Munich (Germany) Cowboys and enjoyed great success there, nearly leading his team to the championship.
 
Giants coach Michael Mattingly calls the signing of Smith "a no-brainer, especially after his GFL season in Munich last year. Wyatt is one of the best quarterbacks in NCAA Division III in recent memory. He's a very smart guy and loves the game of football. We've built a good relationship and I think he's going to be one of the best quarterbacks in Austria this season."
 
Before signing with the Giants, Smith mulled several other professional options in the German Football League. When the Munich Cowboys were decimated by an expansion draft, Smith decided to see another part of the world and Austria. According to his father, Wildcats football coach Joseph Smith, the AFL is the only league that comes close to the competitive level of the GFL 1.
 
Said Joseph Smith: "Wyatt led our team to national prominence and last season he helped Munich to its finest season in 20 years.  So I expect him to go have the same positive impact for the Graz Giants.  EFL Team Expansion hit the Munich Cowboys hard, and not wanting to play against his former teammates and staff remaining in Munich, Wyatt chose to not go back to the GFL and to experience a different part of Europe.  Austria has a rich and full  history overall, and their commitment to football, in my opinion, is of the highest in Europe.
 
"Having the opportunity to live and interact with people from different cultures in a totally foreign land, is a special experience.  I know it will have an impact on Wyatt, and I know Wyatt will have an impact on those he interacts with daily. Because of the success of (the Linfield) program and the quality of the young men graduating from it, many of our players have had the opportunity to play overseas, and I expect this to continue.
 
Wyatt Smith said he is excited to continuing playing football overseas.
 
"The Austrian Football League is one of the oldest leagues in Europe and I am honored to become a part of it.  I cherished my time both at Linfield for four seasons, and one in Munich.  I am excited to use all I've learned from my past teams, teammates, and coaches and to put that into the Graz Giants this year!
 
"Through my first season overseas in Munich, I was able to not only play football at a high level, but see parts of the world I never would have thought I would see. I was able to do that not only through travel, but by being able to truly experience a foreign culture through its people. My experience in Munich was great! We had a good season, the team was fun and eager to train and get better. I am excited to see what Graz, Austria, will be like this season!"
 
Joseph Smith is equally excited to be able to follow his son's progress in Europe.
 
"I am looking forward to watching Wyatt perform in the vaunted Run and Shoot and (part) Air Raid system which Graz will implement this year under American offensive coordinator Cody Kent. Wyatt was integral to our program the past five years as a player, as well as this past year as a coach. I'm certain Wyatt will bring to Graz consistency and attention to detail, as well as a great drive to compete and win. I believe it will rub off on his Graz teammates. The Linfield football program is sure proud of Wyatt.  He will be a great ambassador for the Catdome.
 
The 2023 Austrian Football League season begins April 1 when Graz travels to play the Telfs Patriots.