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Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith declares for NFL Draft despite knee injury

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) cries as he is carted off the field after suffering an injury un the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) cries as he is carted off the field after suffering an injury un the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith declared for the 2016 NFL Draft, but how far will he slide after his significant knee injury?

Jaylon Smith declared for the NFL Draft on Monday, 10 days after he played his last game for Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. It could also be his last game for some time after he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the loss to the Buckeyes.

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He underwent reconstructive knee surgery, but in a video he released announcing his future plans, the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker says he’s persevering through his adversity and excited for the new opportunity.

“It’s really just perseverance for me, with the adversity I’m going through right now, dealing with the knee injury,” Smith said in a video statement. “I have the same vision; it’s just a different path. I’m just really looking forward to this opportunity.”

https://twitter.com/JaeeSmiff9ENT/status/686599061173055488

Smith was the No. 2 draft prospect, according to Mel Kiper Jr’s Big Board in his latest update in mid-December before Smith’s injury, but Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly doesn’t think the injury should hurt his prospects of having a stellar NFL career. It remains to be seen how far he will slide in the draft after the injury, but Kelly cites the success of former Georgia running back Todd Gurley who was a Pro Bowler as a rookie with the St. Louis Rams after he tore his ACL last November.

“I think he’s a generational player at his position, Kelly said on ESPN’s SportsCenter. He’ll recover fine from (the injury). We saw (former Georgia and current Rams RB) Todd Gurley have an ACL and MCL (injury); obviously, it didn’t affect his status. The NFL will be lucky to get a young man like this.”

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Gurley went No. 10 overall despite the uncertain status about his availability as a rookie and I think Smith projects to hear his name called around the same place. I don’t think the Chicago Bears at No. 11 let him get past him and would represent the floor for him, but the possibility exists he could go a few spots higher depending on how his recovery goes between now and April’s draft.

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