2024 DE Nigel Smith Excited For Notre Dame Return

Notre Dame has demonstrated a sincere interest in Nigel Smith Jr.‍ from the start and the 2024 Texas defensive end has reciprocated that interest as well.

The Irish were the first program to extend a scholarship offer to the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder from Melissa High School back in May with LSU, Rutgers and others following suit.

“It was really good because that was my first offer,” said Smith. “It was like all of my hard work hadn't paid off, but it was beginning to. It was just cool to see that I was as good as I thought I was and that I could be a really good player.”

Smith made a visit up to South Bend during the summer for a camp and will be back again for the USC game this weekend.

“My coach and Coach Elston had been talking I guess, and he said they'd send me three tickets to whatever game I wanted to go to,” Smith explained. “We were looking to see whatever the best game to go to would be. We thought it would definitely be the USC game, so we chose that one.

“They're a real good defensive school. I love their d-line coach going down there for the football camp that we did over the summer and just checking it out, all the stuff they have and just had some fun.”

He’s looking forward to the return trip.

“While I'm up there this weekend, I'm just hoping to just learn a little bit more about their defense and where I would fit in there and just see a little bit more of the campus,” he said. “They showed me a lot of it, but I want to see a little bit more of the campus, maybe some of the facilities and then just get to actually talk with all the coaches.”

Smith visited Rutgers and Texas recently and plans to be at Ohio State next month, when the Buckeyes host Michigan State.