Skip to main content
Notre Dame

Devonta Smith injury update: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman reveals why Smith was sidelined

Kyle Kellyby: Kyle Kelly4 hours agoByKyleKelly
Notre-Dame-ranks-No5-on-Greg-McElroy-Top10-defenses-college-football-list
Notre Dame corner back DeVonta Smith celebrates during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in South Bend. | © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman shared an update on Devonta Smith after he did not play against Texas A&M. Freeman said the fifth-year defensive back injured himself in pregame warmups.

“Injured,” Freeman said when asked whether Smith was able to play Saturday night. “He was injured. I think he got hurt in — he was sore but — I think in pregame warmup he rolled his ankle or something like that.”

An Alabama transfer, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Smith started at nickel for the Irish in Week 1 against Miami and recorded a solo tackle. Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Karson Hobbs played in his place, recording 4 tackles, 3 of which were solo stops, in a 41-40 loss to No. 16 Texas A&M.

The No. 8 Irish secondary faced a tough test in Marcel Reed and the Aggies’ passing attack. Notre Dame forced him to throw 20 incompletions. However, on his 17 completed passes, Reed racked up 360 yards, averaging an alarming 21.2 yards per completion.

Texas A&M sophomore wide receiver Mario Craver gave the Irish the most trouble, catching 7 passes for 207 yards and 1 touchdown. Craver scored the Aggies’ first touchdown — an 86-yarder that tied the game at 7 about five minutes into the first quarter.

Smith’s absence made matters more difficult for the Irish. He was one of the program’s most prized additions in the transfer portal. In the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Ranking, Smith was considered the No. 17 cornerback and No. 123 overall player available for transfer.

“Yeah, Smitty is a guy that I’m fortunate to have a relationship with since I was in Cincinnati,” Freeman told reporters in July. “We recruited him and couldn’t beat Alabama — for some reason, but to get him back and he understands high expectations and he understands high standards. He didn’t have to learn that.

“He came in here understanding how to practice, how to prepare and he’s a really talented football player. He’s doing a good job of playing that nickel role for us, and he has experience playing other positions. But I love most about Smitty is that he’s tough. He comes to work and he’s going to be prepared.”

A product of Cincinnati LaSalle, Smith was the No. 179 overall player and No. 13 cornerback nationally in the 2021 class. The 2025 season is his final year of eligibility.

BOX SCORE: No. 16 Texas A&M 41, No. 8 Notre Dame 40