Notre Dame Receiver Kaleb Smith Retires From Football

Transfer wide receiver Kaleb Smith has announced his retirement from football

When Kaleb Smith decided to transfer to Notre Dame he was expected to provide the Irish with good depth, experience and leadership at the wide receiver position. Instead, the veteran has announced his decision to retire from football prior to completion of spring practice.

Here is a bit from Smith on this decision.

"Throughout my career I have had many ups and downs, going from a walk-on to team captain, but this has to be the hardest one yet. As someone who has dedicated their life to this sport, this game we call football, you never think about when it will end, this end has come before I was expecting it to.

"After countless hours of prayer and thought I believe my time playing this game has passed. What is more important to me now is my future after football and to achieve that I must focus on my mental and physical healthy, which has taken a great toll throughout the years. As much as it hurts to say this, I have piece in this decision as I know it is what's best for myself and my family, I will be medically retiring from football and starting my next chapter of life."

Smith earned honorable mention All-ACC honors last season while hauling in 37 passes for 674 yards (18.2 YPC) and three touchdowns for Virginia Tech. He caught 74 passes during his career for 1,143 yards and seven touchdowns. During his brief tenure at Notre Dame, Smith had a hard time passing up other talented players on the roster, with Deion Colzie and Tobias Merriweather seeming to lock down the outside starting spots and Jayden Thomas handling the slot. Combined with Lorenzo Styles, the move of Chris Tyree to the slot and the arrival of three very talented freshmen in Braylon James, Jaden Greathouse and Rico Flores (with another, also named Kaleb Smith, arriving this summer), the depth chart at wide receiver was very competitive.

With Smith retiring, Notre Dame will likely need at least one of the freshman to help this fall. Fortunately for Notre Dame, the three new arrivals this spring have shown outstanding talent and potential. It's unfortunate for Smith that he had to walk away from a game he clearly loves, but for Notre Dame the Irish remain in strong position at wide receiver heading into the final days of spring practice. 

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