Listed measurements: 5-foot-11, 170 pounds.
2023-24 year, eligibility: An incoming freshman, Smith has all four seasons of eligibility remaining.
Depth Chart: Smith’s future is most likely at slot receiver, where Notre Dame moved senior running back Chris Tyree this spring and established early-enrolled freshman Jaden Greathouse, as well.
Recruiting: Irish receivers coach Chansi Stuckey began his chase of Smith while Stuckey coached at Baylor before arriving in South Bend in the 2021-22 winter. In that interim, the consensus three-star prospect had committed to Texas Tech.
Eventually, Stuckey convinced Smith to de-commit from the Red Raiders and visit Notre Dame; soon thereafter, Smith joined the Irish class.
QUOTES
Somewhere between the pandemic’s recruiting dead period and Smith’s nine-month commitment to Texas Tech, his raw speed was not as noticed as it should have been.
“You look at KK, the smoothness with which he plays, the speed at which he plays is very deceiving,” former Irish offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said in December when Smith signed his National Letter of Intent. “You go watch his senior stuff, and you’re like, this kid really slipped through the cracks, because he’s a national recruit.”
WHAT WAS SAID WHEN SMITH SIGNED IN DECEMBER
“The difference between Smith and the rest of this receivers haul is obvious: his size, or lack thereof. That variety will make the class a better fit than simply loading up on a pile of big bodies.”
2023 OUTLOOK
Smith’s speed and his ability to maintain it while changing direction may set him apart. The conditional verb tense is chosen there because Smith needs to show it against collegiate competition to prove its legitimacy.
But if he does, then it may be hard to keep him off the field in 2023, even if he is undersized and undertested. Speed like that waits for no one.
More likely, Smith impresses but does not impress the Notre Dame coaching staff that much next month. With Tyree, Greathouse and sixth-year former walk-on Matt Salerno all working at slot, not to mention junior Jayden Thomas also dabbling there, the Irish can give Smith time.
Expect scout-team work for the Texan this season, barring a shockingly strong preseason.
Two plays from last nights game. We 9-0 😎🕺🏽 pic.twitter.com/A2c58Zkwja
— Kaleb “KK” Smith🤹🏽 (@__KalebSmith) October 22, 2022
DOWN THE ROAD
Tyree has two years of eligibility remaining. In fact, only Salerno will be out of eligibility among Notre Dame’s receivers.
Again, Smith has time.
If the Irish coaching staff genuinely found an under-recruited gem in a Dallas suburb, then Smith should break through into a contributing role next season. But it may take some more time than that. Logic would argue for it.
Glad I got to pop out these last few days, @NDFootball see you again in June✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/FjLgf1sLIh
— Kaleb “KK” Smith🤹🏽 (@__KalebSmith) April 15, 2023
NOTRE DAME 99-TO-0
The summer countdown begins anew, Rylie Mills to Deion Colzie
No. 99 Rylie Mills, senior defensive tackle, moving back inside from end
No. 98 Devan Houstan, early-enrolled four-star defensive tackle
No. 97 Gabriel Rubio, junior defensive tackle, one of three Irish DTs with notable experience
No. 95 Tyson Ford, sophomore defensive tackle, up 30 pounds from a year ago
No. 93 Armel Mukam, incoming freshman defensive end, former Stanford commit
No. 92 Aidan Keanaaina, a senior defensive tackle now ‘fully healthy’ after a 2022 torn ACL
No. 91 Aiden Gobaira, sophomore defensive end, former four-star recruit
No. 88 Mitchell Evans, the next starter at ‘TE U
No. 87 Cooper Flanagan, incoming freshman tight end, four-star recruit
No. 84 Kevin Bauman, senior tight end coming off a torn ACL
No. 83 Jayden Thomas, junior receiver, probable No. 1 target in 2023
No. 79 Tosh Baker, senior tackle, again a backup but next year ...
No. 78 Pat Coogan, junior interior offensive lineman
No. 77 Ty Chan, sophomore offensive tackle, former four-star recruit
No. 76 Joe Alt, first-team All-American left tackle
No. 75 Sullivan Absher, incoming freshman offensive lineman
No. 74 Billy Schrauth, sophomore left guard, likely starter
No. 73 Andrew Kristofic, fifth-year right guard, likely starter
No. 72 Sam Pendelton, early-enrolled freshman offensive lineman
No. 70 Ashton Craig, sophomore interior offensive lineman
No. 68 Michael Carmody, senior offensive lineman
No. 65 Michael Vinson, sixth-year long snapper, four-year starter
No. 64 Joe Otting, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 59 Aamil Wagner, sophomore offensive tackle
No. 56 Charles Jagusah, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 56 Howard Cross, fifth-year defensive tackle, multi-year starter
No. 55 Chris Terek, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 54 Blake Fisher, junior right tackle, second-year starter
No. 52 Zeke Correll, fifth-year center, third-year starter
No. 51 Boubacar Traore, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 50 Rocco Spindler, junior offensive guard
No. 47 Jason Onye, junior defensive tackle on the verge of playing time
No. 44 Junior Tuihalamaka, sophomore defensive end, former linebacker
No. 42 Nolan Ziegler, sophomore linebacker, Irish legacy
No. 41 Donovan Hinish, sophomore defensive tackle following in his brother’s footsteps
No. 40 Joshua Burnham, sophomore linebacker-turned-Vyper end
No. 38 Davis Sherwood, junior fullback/H-back, former walk-on
No. 34 Drayk Bowen, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, baseball infielder
No. 32 Spencer Shrader, South Florida transfer kicker
No. 31 Nana Osafo-Mensah, fifth-year defensive end
No. 29 Christian Gray, early-enrolled freshman cornerback coming off a knee injury
No. 29 Matt Salerno, sixth-year receiver, former walk-on
No. 27 JD Bertrand, fifth-year linebacker, third-year starter, possible captain
No. 25 Preston Zinter, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, subtle recruiting win
No. 24 Jack Kiser, fifth-year linebacker, third-year starter, most efficient defender
No. 24 Jadarian Price, sophomore RB, reportedly recovered from an Achilles injury
No. 23 Jaiden Ausberry, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, four-star recruit
No. 22 Ben Minich, early-enrolled freshman safety, four-star recruit
No. 22 Jeremiyah Love, incoming freshman running back, four-star recruit
No. 21 Adon Shuler, early-enrolled freshman safety coming off shoulder surgery
No. 20 Benjamin Morrison, sophomore cornerback, preseason All-American
No. 19 Jaden Greathouse, early-enrolled freshman receiver, Blue-Gold Game star
No. 18 Steve Angeli, sophomore quarterback, competing for the backup role
No. 18 Chance Tucker, junior cornerback
No. 17 Brenan Vernon, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 17 Rico Flores Jr., early-enrolled freshman receiver, four-star recruit
No. 16 Micah Bell, incoming freshman cornerback, speedy four-star recruit
No. 15 Ryan Barnes, junior cornerback
No. 14 Bryce McFerson, sophomore punter facing a challenge for a second straight year
No. 14 Braylon James, early-enrolled freshman receiver, four-star recruit
No. 13 Holden Staes, sophomore tight end, up 20 pounds in a year
No. 13 Thomas Harper, Oklahoma State graduate transfer safety/nickel back
No. 12 Penn State RB transfer Devyn Ford gives Notre Dame newly-needed backfield depth, experience
No. 12 Jordan Botelho, senior Vyper defensive end
No. 4 Rhode Island transfer safety Antonio Carter gives Notre Dame desperately needed backline depth