Film Don't Lie | Kaleb Smith
Notre Dame was looking for a specific type at wide receiver to finish their 2023 wide receiver recruiting. Speed was the top priority.
Mission accomplished with the addition of Kaleb Smith. The former Texas Tech commit has to develop his overall game, but he can really run and can help in the return game as well.
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180
Projected Position: Wide receiver
ISD Grade: 88 (3-star)
National Average Grade: 85.3 (3-star)
What he does best:
Smith is going to be a candidate to return kicks at Notre Dame because when he gets a crease, he can run away from people. It’s the acceleration piece of it that jumps out. He only takes a beat to get to full speed and if someone takes an incorrect angle against him, he can make a screen or a slant turn into an explosive play.
Smith can be a vertical threat down the field and he tracks the ball over his shoulder well on the fade.
He’s not running a super diverse route tree for his high school, but he’s capable of being more than a straight ahead runner. He can sink his hips and win on a pivot route like this.
What he needs to improve:
There’s limited film available of him doing a lot of things he’ll be asked to do at Notre Dame. The other receivers in this class are more polished route runners and are asked to do more within their offenses.
How physical is he? Can he win contested targets? He’s skinny right now and has some development to do in the strength department.
What’s his ceiling?
It’s difficult to project a ceiling for someone who has so much development to do at his position, but the speed with Smith is undeniable. He has the potential to be another explosive play threat in this class for the Irish and they’ve once again upgraded their team speed with this addition.
Smith is very much like the type of kid Baylor has had success with in recent years, which shouldn’t be surprising that he was previously committed to former Baylor assistant and current Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and we know Notre Dame wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey was at Baylor as well.
Smith is going to have to take some time before he sees the field at Notre Dame, but it will be exciting to see where he takes his game in a couple of years.
Who he could be:
Current Notre Dame receiver Braden Lenzy
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