Notre Dame Football: Top 5 MVP candidates for Fighting Irish

Oct 10, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) celebrates a fumble recovery in the third quarter against the Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 41-24. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Smith is arguably the best and most talented player to come through Notre Dame in quite some time. Smith finished the 2015 regular season with 113 tackles, which led the team by a wide margin. He also led the team in past breakups and was also in the top five in tackles for loss.

He’s always around the ball, always making a play. It is hard to believe where the Irish defense would be if they didn’t have Jaylon Smith.

He is an All American candidate and also a finalist for the Butkus and Lott IMPACT awards.

Smith is only a junior, but his combination of size and freakish speed has him pegged as a potential top 10 pick. If Smith does decide to come out for the NFL Draft it will not be much of a surprise. Notre Dame will have a huge hole to fill on defense if Smith does decide to declare.

Next: 2. Will Fuller