Kaleb Smith, Notre Dame Football News: Draft Scout Player News

04/26/22 - WR Kaleb Smith, rSr/2024, Notre Dame

Virginia Tech coaches didn't hand out MVP awards after the spring game last week, but veteran wide receiver Kaleb Smith would have been a likely candidate if they did. Smith led all receivers with three catches for 103 yards with a pair of first quarter two touchdowns in the Maroon Team's 26-10 win. With fans keeping a watchful eye on Temple transfer Jadan Blue and a highly touted tandem of second year receivers (Da'Wain Lofton and Jaylen Jones), it was Smith who unexpectedly grabbed the spotlight. "I'm always (overlooked), but that never really gets me," the former preferred walk-on said. "As long as the guys in my locker room and the other guys on the coaching staff know what I can do, that's always been enough for me." Maroon team starting quarterback Grant Wells hit Smith in stride with a perfectly placed ball down the sidelines on the first score.

Smith beat Brion Murray in a footrace down the sideline to get open for the 47-yard touchdown. Smith showed similar breakaway speed on a 51-yard touchdown later in the quarter by beating Murray and safety Chamarri Conner over the top of the defense down the middle of the field. Wells connected with Smith again to put the Maroon Team up 17-0. The longest reception of Smith's career is 34-yards, but those deep routes in the spring game weren't outliers. He's proven to the new staff throughout spring camp that he can be a deep ball threat for new offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen and crew. "He's consistently one of our top guys on our GPS speed barometer," Tech coach Brent Pry said. "He's one of those guys, maybe it doesn't look like he's moving fast, but he covers a lot of ground. He had a really good spring for us." - Roanoke Times

rSr/2024