Notre Dame star linebacker Jaylon Smith's knee injury looked brutal when his knee bent the wrong way in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day and has since undergone reconstructive knee surgery. Smith is expected to make a full recovery after surgery this past Thursday, according to Sports Illustrated's Brian Hamilton.
Smith tore both his ACL and LCL in his left knee against Ohio State, but the surgery reportedly went as well as possible. The repair is reportedly solid as it couldn't have been better, and the Irish star linebacker is ready to get going with his rehab already.
Smith is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the talented defensive playmaker has yet to declare for early entry. Prior to his injury, reports had surfaced that Smith was leaning toward entering the draft, and some NFL personnel executives considered him the safest prospect in the 2016 draft class.
Smith won the Butkus Award for being the top linebacker in college football this past season, and many think that he will have an instant impact at the next level. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker consistently made plays for the Irish defense, recording a total of 115 tackles and nine tackles for a loss. It's unclear if the injury has affected Smith's decision to apply for early entry in the daft, or if his draft stock has dropped because of the injury. Smith will have until the Jan. 18 deadline to make a decision, but at least the coveted linebacker is on the road to recovery at this stage.
