Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith is reportedly leaning towards applying for early entry in the 2016 NFL Draft and has started narrowing his options for an agent, according to NFL Reporter Rand Getlin.
Smith has been one of the most dominant linebackers in all of college football and has already claimed the Butkus Award for the nation's top linebacker. Smith is consistently all over the field for the Irish and has recorded 114 total tackles with nine tackles for a loss and a sack. Head coach Brian Kelly said that he has never coached a player like Smith before, and that is including former star Irish linebacker Manti Te'o, according to Tom Davis of the News-Sentinel.
Smith has two NFL personnel executives reportedly believing that he is the safest pick in the upcoming draft, according to Daniel Jeremiah of College Football 24/7. NFL executives believe that he is a player that can play on all three downs and can be plugged in as a weakside linebacker immediately. Smith is a physical presence on the field but also has a strong football intelligence as he tends to get the Irish defense in strong positions.
Notre Dame faces Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day, and NFL scouts will be watching him closely as they will want to see how he performs against one of college football's top-tier offenses. Walter Football's current mock draft has the Oakland Raiders selecting Smith with the 14th pick, but a ton could change before then.
Smith has not officially declared yet, but if he does apply for early entry, he is expected to be one of the top college linebackers off the board come April.
