'13 IN ATH Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame Man & Graduate)

IrishInFl · Apr 7, 2012

I know Jaylon projects as an OLB, but I would love for him to come in for Manti's MIKE spot. Reload at the position.

STLDomer · Apr 7, 2012

IrishInFL said:
I know Jaylon projects as an OLB, but I would love for him to come in for Manti's MIKE spot. Reload at the position.

He could end up at WILL, DOG or CAT will matter how we do with other prospects , I know Chans Cox mentioned he liked the thought of him being our #1 target to succeed manti te'o and Jarrett Grace looks very promising

peoriairish · Apr 7, 2012

IrishInFL said:
I know Jaylon projects as an OLB, but I would love for him to come in for Manti's MIKE spot. Reload at the position.

It would be a waste of his speed, coverage ability and open-field tacking. We are looking at a few other studs to fill Manti's spot.

gkIrish · Apr 7, 2012

pretty sure I want this kid more than any other recruit from the 2012 or 2013 class

GoldenIsThyFame · Apr 7, 2012

Looking at an August time frame to make a decision. Obviously OSU is the main competition but he keeps mentioning Florida as a place he wants to visit. Distance is a big factor for Jaylon so we definitely have that going for us.

Buster Bluth · Apr 7, 2012

peoriairish said:
It would be a waste of his speed, coverage ability and open-field tacking. We are looking at a few other studs to fill Manti's spot.

Exactly.

I like him at DOG most because of that range he has. Need to drop into a deeper zone? Done. Need to cover a slot receiver in man coverage? Easy peezy.

It's easier to find a guy who has great acceleration into a hole, great football instincts, and weighs 255 than it is to find an OLB who runs a 4.44. I'm not saying Manti is a dime a dozen, not at all. But you want the players with the highest ceilings and you want to get the most out of each individual player, thus Jaylon's talents are best utilized when he has the opportunity to play in space.

sharksamardzija8345 · Apr 7, 2012

Buster Bluth said:
It would be pretty cool to have an Irish commit who is like a 100 or 101 on 247. It just may happen when it's all said and done in ten months.

oh yeah.. I forgot it was that close, lol

DSully1995 · Apr 7, 2012

"I'm trying to get to Joe Mathis, I haven't had a chance to see him. I heard he was up at Michigan and liked it a lot so I'll try and get with him," Morris said. "I heard Jaylon Smith is about to commit to Notre Dame but I don't know about all that. I'll definitely talk to him and see how things are going." , from cbs sports, Morris is Shane morris, pretty sure hes a UM commit.

DSully1995 · Apr 7, 2012

Also:

if it doesnt work its a pic of jaylon in a ND hat, heres the link to the Cbs article, Midwest's best comes out for Adidas Invitational - CBSSports

STLDomer · Apr 7, 2012

No player looked better from check in to the final whistle than Ft. Wayne (Ind.) linebacker Jaylon Smith. The most impressive player on the defensive side of the ball all day, the top recruit more than lived up to his billing as a playmaker by dominating one-on-ones against running backs and looking like a safety picking off passes against wide receivers.

"It's a nice challenge to get out here and compete," Smith said.

With offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State and USC among a coast-to-coast list of powerhouses, Smith has been focusing less on recruiting and more on training so far this spring. Things are picking up slightly with spring ball staring up, which has allowed the talented linebacker to take in a little more of programs than he has in the past.

"Everything is going good, it's flowing and I'm just really relaxing," he said. "I'm getting out to see some schools and training everyday trying to get back into shape."

Smith showed up to camp in a Notre Dame hat and had St. Paul (Minn.) wide receiver and Irish commitment James Onwualu expanding on all of the positives that would come with a commitment to the school. While Smith has visited South Bend several times already and most consider the program his leader, he insisted the attire didn't mean anything.

"I have a hat for every offer I have," said Smith. "I think it's 21 right now if I'm not mistaken. It's just a nice experience to have this opportunity at picking a school to go to. Notre Dame, they're a pretty good school right now and close to home."

Distance from home is always an issue with players and their families and it appears it will be one for Smith unless the comfort factor at a school is too much to overcome it.

"It is a bit of a factor," Smith said. "Everybody would like to stay home but I'm just going to go where it best fits me. If that means taking a visit to Florida and committing there, I'd do that. It really depends on what I feel in my heart."

The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder is still sorting out who and when he is going to visit colleges over the next couple of weeks but has to work around the camp circuit while doing so.

"The 21st I was going to go to my brother's game at Ohio State or Notre Dame's game," Smith said. "I won't be attending those two because our (7-on-7 travel team) will be down in Pittsburgh for a tournament. No others that I'm sure of. I know I'll go to the (Indiana) spring game next week and be there."

Smith did return from Ohio State recently and was impressed with what the Buckeyes showed him. One thing that the Buckeyes can offer that nobody else can is the chance to play with his brother, Rod Smith, but that will not be a huge factor in where Jaylon decides to go.

"It was a good visit, there was a very nice intensity there," he added. "I could tell that Urban (Meyer) is really getting ready to change things there. (My brother) tells me what he sees and why he chose to go to Ohio State and things like that. But he's really just being a brother."

Having a family member that has gone through the process has proved invaluable for Smith when dealing with the coaches that call every week.

"It's good that he went through the experience because now that I'm going through it's not new to our family," Smith said. "We know how to approach it and know who's lying and who's telling you what you want to hear.

"I just want to take football out of the situation and figure out what is best for me. I want to set myself up for life because there's going to be a day where football is going to be over. I have to put myself in the best position because of that."

An August decision appears to be in the cards for the 2013 linebacker as Smith wants to focus on his senior season and his high school team's quest for a fourth straight state championship.

By Bryan Fischer | College Football Recruiting Blogger CBS Sports

STLDomer · Apr 7, 2012

DSully1995 said:
Also:

if it doesnt work its a pic of jaylon in a ND hat, heres the link to the Cbs article, Midwest's best comes out for Adidas Invitational - CBSSports

I gotcha

TheTurningPoint · Apr 8, 2012

Dont want a player with his explosion caught in the middle. Def going to be an OLB. Then move as the lone LB in dime but you'd limiting Jaylons ability if he was moved inside. Totally different skill set than manti.

micks60 · Apr 8, 2012

TheTurningPOint said:
Dont want a player with his explosion caught in the middle. Def going to be an OLB. Then move as the lone LB in dime but you'd limiting Jaylons ability if he was moved inside. Totally different skill set than manti.

Very true. He needs to be on the edge.

MrIrishCanadian1 · Apr 8, 2012

Some clips of Jaylon at the invitational:

Recap: Adidas Invitational - Rivals.com Video

never realized how awkward those contact drills without pads would look. At least if I were a high school student I would lose confidence doing them...

peoriairish · Apr 8, 2012

Seriously. This kid keeps getting better. He is exactly what we need as an OLB. I will seriously lose my sh1t if he signs his LOI to ND. Oh boy, I love this game.

Bogtrotter07 · Apr 8, 2012

Screw anybody that wants to put Jaylon in the middle, but with due respect, here is the important point in the article:

"The 21st I was going to go to my brother's game at Ohio State or Notre Dame's game," Smith said. "I won't be attending those two because our (7-on-7 travel team) will be down in Pittsburgh for a tournament. No others that I'm sure of. I know I'll go to the (Indiana) spring game next week and be there."

woolybug25 · Apr 8, 2012

Bogtrotter07 said:
Screw anybody that wants to put Jaylon in the middle, but with due respect, here is the important point in the article:

Nobody puts Jaylon in the corner... I mean, uhm... middle.

Emcee77 · Apr 8, 2012

I just don't see how a guy with this size and coverage skill could play anything but DOG. So it really confuses me to hear that Doug Randolph is being told he is our top target at DOG.

Buster Bluth · Apr 8, 2012

MrIrishCanadian1 said:
Some clips of Jaylon at the invitational:

Recap: Adidas Invitational - Rivals.com Video

never realized how awkward those contact drills without pads would look. At least if I were a high school student I would lose confidence doing them...

"once in a decade type linebacker"

Damn...

IrishLax · Apr 9, 2012

Taken from another board... but Shane Morris told reporters he's heard that Jaylon is "ready to commit to ND"... I just wish his decision schedule was earlier rather than later as a lot can happen in 3 months. I would certainly not consider him a lock, but we're sitting pretty.

greyhammer90 · Apr 9, 2012

Since it seems like we lead, how are his academics? I don't mean to cause waves and I'm not questioning his ability, but we've lost a few studs in the past to admissions.

woolybug25 · Apr 9, 2012

Buster Bluth said:
"once in a decade type linebacker"

Damn...

"Once in a Decade" is the most overused cliche' in recruiting. For instance, if we landed Jaylon , he would be the second "Once in a Decade" linebacker to come to Notre Dame in just the last five years. lol.

He is the kid I probably want to see at Notre Dame out of this class most though. He's an amazing athlete.

ChiRish · Apr 9, 2012

IrishLax said:
Taken from another board... but Shane Morris told reporters he's heard that Jaylon is "ready to commit to ND"... I just wish his decision schedule was earlier rather than later as a lot can happen in 3 months. I would certainly not consider him a lock, but we're sitting pretty.

As the overzealous excited ND that I am, this makes me exceedingly excited, and makes me think that he's an ND lock. Then my background makes me realize that hearsay is hearsay and I go right back to sitting back and waiting for it to play out. Quite the contradiction.

Either way, I absolutely love the way this class is playing out. If Jaylon were to commit, I have a feeling that it would spark even more of the recruiting dominoes to fall earlier than usual this year. Think Ryan Green seeing Jaylon commit wouldn't make him think twice about waiting? Or Rochell? Or even Drennon? What about Randolph? Landing a Manti type of recruit would be a huge deal going into the season. And at that point, all we have to do is the simple task of winning.

woolybug25 · Apr 9, 2012

ChiRish said:
As the overzealous excited ND that I am, this makes me exceedingly excited, and makes me think that he's an ND lock. Then my background makes me realize that hearsay is hearsay and I go right back to sitting back and waiting for it to play out. Quite the contradiction.

Either way, I absolutely love the way this class is playing out. If Jaylon were to commit, I have a feeling that it would spark even more of the recruiting dominoes to fall earlier than usual this year. Think Ryan Green seeing Jaylon commit wouldn't make him think twice about waiting? Or Rochell? Or even Drennon? What about Randolph? Landing a Manti type of recruit would be a huge deal going into the season. And at that point, all we have to do is the simple task of winning.

Landing Jaylon, Rochell and Randolph would give us a defensive class as good as the Tuitt/Lynch/Ishaq class.

Fbolt · Apr 9, 2012

From reports, this young man tore it up at the Adidas Invite this past weekend. Looking for him to commit to us soon. This is the guy I want most from this class...so far. lol

TheSunIsRising · Apr 9, 2012

woolybug25 said:
"Once in a Decade" is the most overused cliche' in recruiting. For instance, if we landed Jaylon , he would be the second "Once in a Decade" linebacker to come to Notre Dame in just the last five years. lol.

He is the kid I probably want to see at Notre Dame out of this class most though. He's an amazing athlete.

I agree with the first part; IIRC, Jimmy Clausen was the best High School QB to be recruited since Elway, and then 2 years later Matt Barkley was a once in a decade (or generation) type.

On the second part, one could I guess argue that Manti was the 2001-2010 decade, and Jaylon is the 2011-2020 decade

Buster Bluth · Apr 9, 2012

TheSunIsRising said:
I agree with the first part; IIRC, Jimmy Clausen was the best High School QB to be recruited since Elway, and then 2 years later Matt Barkley was a once in a decade (or generation) type.

On the second part, one could I guess argue that Manti was the 2001-2010 decade, and Jaylon is the 2011-2020 decade

Jimmy Clausen was nothing short of a phenom though. An absolute stud coming out of HS. He probably was a once in a decade QB prospect.

ThePiombino · Apr 9, 2012

TheSunIsRising said:
I agree with the first part; IIRC, Jimmy Clausen was the best High School QB to be recruited since Elway, and then 2 years later Matt Barkley was a once in a decade (or generation) type.

On the second part, one could I guess argue that Manti was the 2001-2010 decade, and Jaylon is the 2011-2020 decade

Plus you could argue ILB vs OLB

peoriairish · Apr 9, 2012

ThePiombino said:
Plus you could argue ILB vs OLB

Well I may just be splitting hairs buuutttt, the OP said once in a decade LB, not just OLB. Soooo, yeah.

ThePiombino · Apr 9, 2012

peoriairish said:
Well I may just be splitting hairs buuutttt, the OP said once in a decade LB, not just OLB. Soooo, yeah.

You're right. I'm just playing devil's advocate.

'13 IN ATH Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame Man & Graduate)

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