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

[GBdomer]

Does anyone else feel like Jaylon's career went by relatively quietly? I know that sounds crazy, I know he's an amazing player and probably the best defender since the Holtz Era.

But, he never seemed to make an off the field splash in the way Manti, Zibby, McCarthy, and the other defensive captains have.

I love that he showed up and got the work done. And it sounds like he was well respected.

But, it just seemed like his time just kind of flew by without ever really having a milestone moment.

Maybe I'm crazy, but his career feels like it was missing something.

I don't know if he ever had a true statement game. I totally understand what you are saying. Would have loved to see him attack the QB a little more in that defense. Don't know why BVG never did, that's on him. Was he the best defensive player I've ever seen at ND? Yes, but did I expect more? At times

 

[ThePiombino]

Does anyone else feel like Jaylon's career went by relatively quietly? I know that sounds crazy, I know he's an amazing player and probably the best defender since the Holtz Era.

But, he never seemed to make an off the field splash in the way Manti, Zibby, McCarthy, and the other defensive captains have.

I love that he showed up and got the work done. And it sounds like he was well respected.

But, it just seemed like his time just kind of flew by without ever really having a milestone moment.

Maybe I'm crazy, but his career feels like it was missing something.

I think it's because he was never really used as a blitzer, nor did he create many turnovers. He was a tackling machine and caused the other team to gameplan against him specifically in ways that not many defenders can demand. So it was quiet in the sense that he didn't play a "glamorous" game, but he was definitely a game changer for the majority of the past three years.

 

[irishfan]

3. I think this is what I heard on Jaylon Smith, the highly talented Notre Dame linebacker and prospective very high NFL draft choice who suffered that terrible left knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl: Smith, a junior, was very likely to come out in the 2016 draft, and he would have been a top three to five pick if he came out healthy.

One NFL scout who was at the Fiesta Bowl said Saturday he thought Smith was a top-three pick. Another who I spoke with Saturday said of the players he saw this fall, if Smith came out, he’d have been a strong candidate to be the top overall pick. “There is not a defense he would not fit in,” the second scout said. “This is a huge story.”

A bigger-bodied linebacker who plays the run well and could go sideline-to-sideline like an outside ‘backer, Smith now will have to decide whether he wants to stay at Notre Dame and come out, potentially, healthier and higher in the 2017 draft than lower in 2016. Tough decision. Some might look at the Todd Gurley case and say that Gurley tore his ACL and was so immensely talented as a running back that the Rams took him 10th overall in the first round five months after his knee surgery. But there’s no telling how spooked teams would be about Smith, whose injury came almost seven weeks later in the season than Gurley’s.

Now for the after-effects: Why would many/any great players with strong chances to be first or second-round picks stay in college, seeing what happened to Smith? It’s one thing if it’s a player’s strong choice (such as Andrew Luck) because he simply loves the life in college and in college football, and knows even if he gets hurt he’s still going to be a very high pick. But for many, it’s a game of Russian Roulette. “I know this is going to scare guys on the fence about coming out,” said the scout who was at the Fiesta Bowl.

As of Saturday night, 52 junior-eligibles had declared for the 2016 draft, and that doesn’t include most from power schools Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State. The deadline is Jan. 15, four days after the national title game between Alabama and Clemson.

NFL wild-card schedule set; Black Monday starts early for coaches | The MMQB with Peter King

Not the biggest Peter King fan, but he usually has good connections/info.

 

[GATTACA!]

Just saw another mock draft that doesn't have Jaylon going in the first round. From a business perspective i'm beginning to think returning for his senior season might be his best option. Bet on himself being able to get back to 100%.

2016 NFL Mock Draft: Jared Goff, not Johnny Manziel, is the Browns' future

 

[BobbyMac]

If you trust ND's staff to rehab you, go back.

I think I'd have caught the first flight to Birmingham and handed Andrews the scalpel myself, then identified the best route to rehab and made that my job next year, not sitting in Humanities 301. Our Lady has been there since 1842, she ain't going anywhere.

I really don't know 100% how the NFL draft works. Can he not declare, quit school, rehab, then declare for the '17 or would he be forced into the supplemental?

.

 

[GATTACA!]

If you trust ND's staff to rehab you, go back.

I think I'd have caught the first flight to Birmingham and handed Andrews the scalpel myself, then identified the best route to rehab and made that my job next year, not sitting in Humanities 301. Our Lady has been there since 1842, she ain't going anywhere.

I really don't know 100% how the NFL draft works. Can he not declare, quit school, rehab, then declare for the '17 or would he be forced into the supplemental?

.

I have no idea what the rules are for the supplemental draft. My thought though is as long as his insurance policy carries over to 2017 coming back to ND is his best option.

To me I think there are three outcomes:

1) He goes into the draft right now and gets selected in the late first round.
2) He comes back to ND, after rehabbing he plays but doesn't look 100%. He ends up being drafted outside the 1st round.
3) He comes back to ND, after rehabbing he plays and looks 100%. He goes in the top 10 like he would have before the injury.

Options 1 and 2 are fairly comprable in term of money because of his insurance policy. In that case why not just bet on yourself and take your chances coming back. The big payday would he number 3.

 

[RDU Irish]

Gurley may be a good example - how much higher would he have gone if healthy? How much further would he have dropped if he were expected to miss 8-10 games instead of 3-4? Until we know the timeline for recovery it is impossible to speculate. Gurley's issue was also thought of as high probability of full recovery.

I have a hard time seeing NFL teams drop a top 20 pick if a kid can't play until the last third of the season. However, taking him late first round (I believe) locks him in for one more year than a second round contract - easier for a playoff team to wait a year to secure a lottery prospect.

If the time on the contract is accurate - I see it unlikely he drops out of the first round and collects on the policy and takes a year longer to get to that highly sold "second contract".

 

[stlnd01]

Still no word on his actual injury? Because it would seem like the whole question hinges on how bad he's hurt.

 

[FWIrish4]

Just praying it's not as severe as I was just told. Literally couldn't have happened to a more genuine, humble, and extremely gifted athlete. Life is not fair sometimes and prayers to Jaylon for a full and speedy recovery.

 

[RDU Irish]

Just praying it's not as severe as I was just told. Literally couldn't have happened to a more genuine, humble, and extremely gifted athlete. Life is not fair sometimes and prayers to Jaylon for a full and speedy recovery.

Well said. Reinforces the 40 year decision. Cough, Caleb, cough.

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ND LB <a href="https://twitter.com/JaeeSmiff9ENT">@JaeeSmiff9ENT</a> slides to 14th in this mock; <a href="https://twitter.com/ronnie_stanley">@ronnie_stanley</a> 3rd to SD; <a href="https://twitter.com/Will_Fuller7">@Will_Fuller7</a> 22nd; 7 Buckeyes in Rd 1. <a href="https://t.co/rdM1y9LcKz">https://t.co/rdM1y9LcKz</a></p>— Eric Hansen (@EHansenNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/EHansenNDI/status/684060152908091392">January 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[koonja]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ND LB <a href="https://twitter.com/JaeeSmiff9ENT">@JaeeSmiff9ENT</a> slides to 14th in this mock; <a href="https://twitter.com/ronnie_stanley">@ronnie_stanley</a> 3rd to SD; <a href="https://twitter.com/Will_Fuller7">@Will_Fuller7</a> 22nd; 7 Buckeyes in Rd 1. <a href="https://t.co/rdM1y9LcKz">https://t.co/rdM1y9LcKz</a></p>— Eric Hansen (@EHansenNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/EHansenNDI/status/684060152908091392">January 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

All 3 of those seem extremely generous and I'd take the 'over' on each one.

 

[arrowryan]

FWIW, CBS' most recent mock draft has Jaylon Smith not being drafted in the first round; before his injury, they had him in the top 10.

Side note: they have Stanley going #6 to Baltimore

2016 NFL Mock Draft: Jared Goff, not Johnny Manziel, is the Browns' future - CBSSports.com

 

[arrowryan]

7 OSU players in the first round is laughable

And I wouldn't spend a first round pick on a smaller Mike Wallace

 

[GATTACA!]

FWIW, CBS' most recent mock draft has Jaylon Smith not being drafted in the first round; before his injury, they had him in the top 10.

Side note: they have Stanley going #6 to Baltimore

2016 NFL Mock Draft: Jared Goff, not Johnny Manziel, is the Browns' future - CBSSports.com

Just posted that #4821 lol

 

[Luckylucci]

7 OSU players in the first round is laughable

And I wouldn't spend a first round pick on a smaller Mike Wallace

Love Fuller and all of the exciting moments he brought to ND but no way in hell would I draft him in the first round.

 

[beryirish]

Love Fuller and all of the exciting moments he brought to ND but no way in hell would I draft him in the first round.

Hey, you shut your mouth - NFL scouts and Team Owners read these forums and if they see actual fans say he shouldn't go in the first round then that could scare them off



...wholeheartedly agree with the statement this joke was made from.

 

[arrowryan]

Love Fuller and all of the exciting moments he brought to ND but no way in hell would I draft him in the first round.

19 of his 30 college touchdowns were of 20 yards or more. If I'm taking a receiver in the first round, I'm taking someone that is just as much of a threat in the red zone than they are outside of the 20

 

[Luckylucci]

19 of his 30 college touchdowns were of 20 yards or more. If I'm taking a receiver in the first round, I'm taking someone that is just as much of a threat in the red zone than they are outside of the 20

Yea, I think he's definitely worthy of a 2nd-3rd rd pick as he could be a dynamic deep threat and with the amount of downfield passing we see in todays game thats valuable. But I'm not taking a WR in the first round unless I think he's a #1 WR for every situation.

 

[arrowryan]

Yea, I think he's definitely worthy of a 2nd-3rd rd pick as he could be a dynamic deep threat and with the amount of downfield passing we see in todays game thats valuable. But I'm not taking a WR in the first round unless I think he's a #1 WR for every situation.

4 vertical with AB, Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton, and Fuller

 

[irishfan]

Yea, I think he's definitely worthy of a 2nd-3rd rd pick as he could be a dynamic deep threat and with the amount of downfield passing we see in todays game thats valuable. But I'm not taking a WR in the first round unless I think he's a #1 WR for every situation.

I tend to agree, but WRs have gone like crazy the last couple years in the 1st round, many of which have been "burners" like Fuller. Others have been 6'0" or shorter.

2015: 6 WRs went, including Dorsett who is 5'10" 185 and Agholor who is 6'0" 198.
2014: 5 WRs including Cooks who is 5'10" 189 and Beckham who is 5'11" 200.

If he's one of the 5 best available and doesn't weigh in at 170, I think he could go late in the 1st.

 

[connor_in]

Looking back up the line...Jaylon's a receiver now?

 

[palinurus]

Yea, I think he's definitely worthy of a 2nd-3rd rd pick as he could be a dynamic deep threat and with the amount of downfield passing we see in todays game thats valuable. But I'm not taking a WR in the first round unless I think he's a #1 WR for every situation.

Exactly right. Won't Fuller be looking at life as a slot guy? Maybe a really good one, but a slot guy?

 

[Luckylucci]

I tend to agree, but WRs have gone like crazy the last couple years in the 1st round, many of which have been "burners" like Fuller. Others have been 6'0" or shorter.

2015: 6 WRs went, including Dorsett who is 5'10" 185 and Agholor who is 6'0" 198.
2014: 5 WRs including Cooks who is 5'10" 189 and Beckham who is 5'11" 200.

If he's one of the 5 best available and doesn't weigh in at 170, I think he could go late in the 1st.

I wasn't saying it won't happen, GM's lose their jobs every year for bad decisions. I was saying I wouldn't do it. Also, Cooks, Beckham, Agholor were more complete WR's. Fuller really has some limitations that those guys don't. Consistent hands being a big one. Those guys all have good to very good ball skills.

 

[irishfan]

I wasn't saying it won't happen, GM's lose their jobs every year for bad decisions. I was saying I wouldn't do it.

Oh ya, I said I agree with that. Just pointing out that WRs have been going like crazy the last couple years. Just takes one team to fall in love with his speed.

 

[dwshade]

FWIW, CBS' most recent mock draft has Jaylon Smith not being drafted in the first round; before his injury, they had him in the top 10.

Side note: they have Stanley going #6 to Baltimore

2016 NFL Mock Draft: Jared Goff, not Johnny Manziel, is the Browns' future - CBSSports.com

They have two draft analysts, Rob and Dane. Rob has Smith going to Jets. Dane is waiting to see what Jaylon decides to do before placing him in a mock.

 

[dwshade]

As to Will Fuller he could very easily go in round one because of his ability to take the top off a defense. NFL teams covet guys who can do that. The term you hear in NFL circles today is explosion plays. Teams want to create explosion plays on offense and limit them on defense. Fuller has great value in that area more than a Nelson Agholor for example. Agholor is good but not great in any aspect of playing WR. Fuller's speed puts him on another level.

 

[Luckylucci]

Oh ya, I said I agree with that. Just pointing out that WRs have been going like crazy the last couple years. Just takes one team to fall in love with his speed.

True and for a team that doesn't have a lot of needs gambling on that isn't necessarily wrong, I just wouldn't do it.

Very interested to see how legit is speed really is. I wonder if he breaks the 4.3 mark.

 

[BobbyMac]

True and for a team that doesn't have a lot of needs gambling on that isn't necessarily wrong, I just wouldn't do it.

Very interested to see how legit is speed really is. I wonder if he breaks the 4.3 mark.

I'll be interested in this too. I get the feeling he is faster than quick, though. Would love for the NFL to test for max MPH.

I think Adoree would tell you, it's faster than anyone he's ever caught

 

[tussin]

True and for a team that doesn't have a lot of needs gambling on that isn't necessarily wrong, I just wouldn't do it.

Very interested to see how legit is speed really is. I wonder if he breaks the 4.3 mark.

Selfish me is also really bummed that we don't get to see Jaylon at the Combine...