Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/109499
Lemming and MaxPreps.com. Statistics: Recorded 72 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks during his senior season … Also ran for 1,265 yards, 18 touchdowns and 7.2 yards per carry at running back as a senior … Recorded 55 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a junior. Honors: Won the Butkus Award as the nation's top high school linebacker … Named Indiana's Mr. Football for 2012 … A first-team Parade All-American selection at linebacker … USA Today first-team All-American … First-team Class 2A Indiana All-State selection as a junior and a senior… Named the top recruit in Indiana by the Detroit Free Press … Named a first-team All-American by 247Sports … Named 247Sports' Top Performer at the NLA seven-on-seven regional tournament in Pittsburgh last summer … Won the Euell A. Wilson Award, given to his conference's top senior player … Named the Bishop Luers' football team Most Valuable Player … Had his No. 9 jersey retired by the school. All-Star Games And Camps: Selected as a team captain and blocked a field goal at the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl in San Antonio Jan. 5 … Named the MVP of the Nike Football Training Camp in Columbus, Ohio … Attended Nike's "The Opening" in Beaverton, Ore. … Pledged to Notre Dame while attending the RAS camp at Trine University. Brian Kelly's Comments: "He's got all the things that you're looking for, that quickness, that ability to strike. He can play any position really. He's a great running back, as well. He'll play on the defensive side of the ball, and he's somebody that has great versatility. He's also going to be a great leader here. I see great things for Jaylon Smith." Bishop Luers Former Head Coach Steven Keefer's Comments: "He's a really fine young man. He's close with his family. He was a great team leader. Anytime that I needed a problem addressed I'd just go to him and the captains, and they'd get it fixed. It was a real honor down at the Army All-American Bowl where he was elected one of the team captains. That's indicative of his personality and leadership." Tom Lemming Of Prep Football Report: "Jaylon, to me, is a lights-outs kid, both on and off the field. He's a legit threat and a difference-maker type of linebacker. There are only three or four of them this year, and he's one of them. He's a lights-out linebacker that fits perfectly into Notre Dame's defense as an outside backer." Recruitment: Committed to Notre Dame on June 2, 2012 … Also visited Indiana, Purdue and Ohio State … Held offers from dozens of schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Oregon … Primarily recruited by defensive line coach Mike Elston … Visited Notre Dame April 4, May 12, Sept. 8 (Purdue game), Sept. 22 (Michigan game), Oct. 13 (Stanford game), Nov. 3 (Pittsburgh game) and Nov. 17 (Wake Forest game), and made his official visit Dec. 7. Why He Chose Notre Dame: "I just wanted to make a 40-year decision rather than a four-year decision. You can't really base it off of football; you just have to figure out what school best sets you up for life and Notre Dame did that, or will do that." Jason Sapp's Scouting Report: His first step, burst and reaction time are just a few of the many traits that stand out about him as a defensive player … Capable of quickly gaining the edge and remaining skinny around it to stay on a direct path to the quarterback … Difficult for the ball carrier to outrun due to his speed … Sound in pass coverage … One of the biggest traits that separates him from the rest is his desire to compete. 2013 Projection: One of a few incoming freshman who has a chance to be an impact player as soon as he takes the field. Smith will compete for a spot as the starting Dog linebacker and could also be used as a pass rusher off the edge in situational defenses during his freshman season.