Notre Dame to host Virginia Tech transfer WR Kaleb Smith for visit
Notre Dame will host its first transfer wide receiver target on campus this weekend. Kaleb Smith, who is departing from Virginia Tech, will be in South Bend the weekend of Dec. 17, he said on social media.
Smith is a grad transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. He will be a sixth-year senior in 2023. He was Virginia Tech’s leading receiver in 2022, with 37 catches for 674 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games. No other Hokies player had more than 256 receiving yards. His 18.3 yards per catch ranks 22nd among qualified FBS players. He was an All-ACC honorable mention selection.
Notre Dame wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey visited Smith Monday morning, a source told BlueandGold.com.
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The 6-2, 222-pound Smith came to Virginia Tech in 2018 as a walk-on from Louisa County (Va.) High School. He redshirted as a freshman, but wedged his way into the lineup in 2019 and made five starts. He caught 9 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown that season. His reward for such a leap was a scholarship.
Smith played eight games in 2020, totaling 8 catches for 88 yards and 1 touchdown. He played in all 13 contests (11 starts) in 2021, with 20 catches for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 2021 stat line included 2 receptions for 19 yards in a 32-29 loss to Notre Dame Oct. 9.
Smith had a pair of 100-yard games in 2022, first hanging 9 receptions for 152 yards on Pitt Oct. 8 and then hauling in 3 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown on North Carolina State. He had an 85-yard touchdown reception against the Wolfpack. He was the ACC Receiver of the Week following the game against the Panthers. He was also a nominee for the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented to the best player in college football who began his career as a walk-on.
Notre Dame has put a priority on finding wide receiver help in the transfer portal. The Irish offered two transfer receivers Dec. 5, the first day the portal officially opened: Dante Cephas (Kent State) and Keagan Johnson (Iowa). Johnson, though, announced a commitment to Kansas State Sunday. Cephas made trips to Pitt and Penn State last weekend.
As it stands, Notre Dame has six scholarship receivers on the 2022 roster. The Irish have four commitments from 2023 wide receivers. Grad students Braden Lenzy and Matt Salerno have not announced if they will return for a sixth season. They were both honored on Senior Day.
