Notre Dame wide receiver Kaleb Smith announced Saturday his medical retirement from football.
The 6-foot-2, 222-pound Smith joined Notre Dame's program in January following a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech. Last season, Smith led the Hokies with 37 receptions for 674 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.
He signed with the Irish in December after entering the transfer portal. At Notre Dame, Smith reunited with quarterback Sam Hartman, a graduate transfer from Wake Forest. The two were once committed to play together for the Demon Deacons.
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Smith offered the following as part of a statement released on social media:
"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. For me, 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 health which has taken a great toll throughout the years. As much as it hurts to say this, I have peace 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 did not specify if he will remain in a graduate program at Notre Dame.
"We wish them all the best," Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said Saturday. "It was what's best for him. And ultimately, as a head coach, that’s all I care about is he made the decision that this is probably what's best for him to retire from football.
"He put out a statement. He went into details on the reasons why, but we wish him all the best, and we're grateful for the time we have with him and wish him the best moving forward."
During a practice in which reporters were allowed to attend on April 1, Smith was working with the second-team and third-team offenses.
The Irish have gained so much confidence in their wide receiver depth chart this spring that they're entertaining giving junior Lorenzo Styles, who led ND's wide receivers last season with 30 receptions, an extended audition at cornerback next week.
Including Styles and converted running back Chris Tyree, the Irish have nine scholarship wide receivers on the spring roster with three-star recruit Kaleb Smith, a Frisco (Texas) Rick Reedy product, joining the team in June.
Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker identified Tyree, sophomore Tobias Merriweather and junior Jayden Thomas as wide receivers who've made strides this spring. Junior Deion Colzie needs to improve his consistency, Parker said, and the freshman trio of Rico Flores Jr., Jaden Greathouse and Braylon James has a chance to make an impact.
Sixth-year graduate student Matt Salerno, a former walk-on, also brings experience to the group.
Explaining Prince Kollie’s absence
Junior linebacker Prince Kollie wasn’t at Wednesday’s open practice and was spotted walking out of Notre Dame Stadium following Saturday’s practice not dressed in football gear.
Freeman said Saturday the 6-foot-1, 228-pound Kollie is in the program’s concussion protocol and has been for about a week. Kollie, who totaled 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one blocked punt as a reserve linebacker and special teams contributor last season, also spent time in the concussion protocol in August.
Freeman said he hopes Kollie can practice next week and be available to play in Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game.
“PK was having a really good offseason until he got banged up,” said defensive coordinator Al Golden.
Earlier this spring, Golden praised Kollie’s progress.
“I’m excited about PK,” Golden said. “We have to get him healthy. Get him healthy and have a consistent run at things. He’s going to be really good. I love the kid, love the player. He works hard. He’s low maintenance. He’s in the mix. He was in the mix last year, and he’s right there.”
Christian Gray and Ben Minich sidelined for rest of spring
Early enrolled freshmen Christian Gray and Ben Minich won’t finish their first spring football session healthy, Freeman said.
Gray, a 6-0, 184-pound cornerback, received arthroscopic surgery on his knee last Thursday. Gray left Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday with crutches.
Minich, a 6-0, 190-pound safety, required a procedure on his thumb that cut his spring halfway short.
Both were able to take second-team and third-team reps earlier this spring.
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