Ineligible sophomore quarterback Anthony Smith, whose transfer to Seton LaSalle led to a lawsuit against the PIAA, won’t play football for the Rebels this season, said an attorney representing Smith and his family.

Attorney Steve Toprani said the family is no longer seeking a preliminary injunction against the WPIAL and PIAA, which found Smith’s transfer from Southmoreland was athletically motivated and ruled him ineligible for one year.

Toprani said a hearing scheduled for Thursday in a Westmoreland County courtroom would be canceled. Smith’s family was evaluating other options for the upcoming school year, he said.

A 6-foot-2, 190-pound rising sophomore with three Division I college offers, Smith could potentially gain eligibility by transferring out of state or enrolling at a non-PIAA school. He emerged last season as one of the WPIAL’s top young quarterbacks when he passed for more than 2,000 yards.

A Westmoreland County judge ruled Aug. 12 that Smith was allowed to participate in Seton LaSalle’s scrimmage this past weekend and scheduled the follow-up hearing to decide whether to grant the preliminary injunction. However, Toprani said Smith did not take part in the scrimmage.

The lawsuit against the PIAA will continue, Toprani said, but gaining eligibility for Smith to play football this fall is no longer the goal.

“As you heard from the PIAA lawyer’s indications, they intended to fight this as far as they can,” Toprani said. “You get into a scenario where this case could be litigated long after the football season concludes. I think the Smith family just wanted some more certainty in their lives.”

Football teams statewide start their seasons Friday with Week Zero games.

A WPIAL hearing panel on July 21 found Smith’s transfer from Southmoreland was motivated at least partially by athletics. The PIAA upheld that WPIAL decision on appeal Aug. 8, keeping the up-and-coming quarterback ineligible.

Smith’s father, Ron, told TribLive in June that the transfer to Seton LaSalle was not for athletic intent, saying it put his son in a “safer” environment.

“These institutions are resistant to change,” Toprani said of the WPIAL and PIAA. “I thought we had really good merits to this case. We’ll continue to litigate it in some fashion.”

Smith broke a Southmoreland school record when he passed for 2,110 yards last season as a freshman. He threw 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 11 games while completing 53% of his passes (129 of 244).

Syracuse, Sacramento State and Towson were first to offer him scholarships.

Coaches voted him all-conference honorable mention in the Class 3A Interstate.