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Notre Dame Football All-Decade Team: Linebacker

By Nathan Erbach

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Heisman finalists linebacker Manti Te'o of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award after a press conference prior to the 78th Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 8, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Heisman finalists linebacker Manti Te'o of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award after a press conference prior to the 78th Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 8, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, IN – AUGUST 30: Jaylon Smith #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moves to tackle Darik Dillard #32 of the Rice Owls at Notre Dame Stadium on August 30, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Rice 48-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Jaylon Smith (2013-2015)

Probably the most gifted player to ever suit up in a Notre Dame uniform, Smith was a consensus top 10 player coming out of the Indiana High School ranks and went on to start every game of his three year career in South Bend. While his stats were tremendous, his career was frustrating for many ND fans that thought he could have been utilized even more under former defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder. Outside of that, Smith lived up to the hype and then some during his time in South Bend.

During his freshman season, he compiled the third most tackles ever by an Irish freshman with 67 and he also finished second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. He was also the first freshman to start at linebacker in a season opener since 1995.

His next two years were truly special to watch, and it wasn’t long before NFL draft gurus took notice. Registering over 220 tackles and 18 tackles for loss over his final two seasons, there were many in the draft community that felt he was the best player in the 2016 draft class. Smith was an enigma on the football field. He could run with wide receivers, he could beat 300 pound lineman off the edge and he could lay the wood against running backs. His speed was elite, his pass coverage was elite and his awareness and leadership were both top notch.

Unfortunately, Jaylon would suffer a devastating knee injury during the last game of his career against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Whether it was a dirty hit by Taylor Decker is all speculative, but it was certainly pretty late and was behind the play which is unfortunate. Smith would end up with a torn ACL and MCL while also receiving nerve damage that put his career in doubt.

Because of this, he would actually fall to the second round of the NFL draft, where the Dallas Cowboys swooped him up and let him rehab his entire rookie season. Eventually, he would regain the nerve feeling in his leg and for all intents and purposes is back to his old self on the football field. 2019 was his third season playing all 16 games with the Cowboys and his third as full time starter. Throughout his career, he has 344 combined tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks earning Pro Bowl honors this past season.

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