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Dallas Cowboys select Jaylon Smith: Draft Grade

By Jason Parker

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
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 /
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The Dallas Cowboys have selected Jaylon Smith with the 34th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft

After three stellar seasons at linebacker for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish that ended with a gruesome injury in their bowl game, Jaylon Smith is now a member of the National Football League. Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 233

40-yard dash: N/A

Notable stat: Started every game in his career at Notre Dame

Jaylon Smith arrived in South Bend as the top rated outside linebacker recruit in the class of 2013 and made an immediate impact with the Fighting Irish. As a freshman, he had 67 tackles (including 11 in a win over Pittsburgh), forced three fumbles and had an interception.

As a sophomore, Smith moved to inside linebacker and saw him numbers skyrocket to 112 tackles on the season (including five games of 10 or more) to go along with 3.5 sacks. As a senior, Smith was named a consensus All-American and Butkus Award winner had 115 tackles and one sack.

Jaylon Smith would led the Fighting Irish to a berth in the Fiesta Bowl, where he suffered a tear to both his ACL and LCL in the first quarter of the loss to Ohio State. Smith would have surgery and announce he was turning pro, with some wondering what effect the injury would have on his draft status. Doctors have said he should be able to fully recover in time for the 2016 NFL season, but even if he doesn’t play until 2017, it’s a smart pick.

Grade: A-

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