Notre Dame Linebacker Jaylon Smith: ‘I’m the Best Player in the Draft’

April 13, 2016   ·   Jaylon Smith   ·   Jump to comments

Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith was widely considered a top-10 draft prospect before tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee on New Year's Day in the Fiesta Bowl. Now, the reigning Butkus Award winner's draft stock is unclear. After months of rehab, he's scheduled to have the knee examined Thursday, the results of which will determine whether he falls to the mid first round, late first round or later.
Heading into those pivotal tests, Smith spoke to Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski about how he's dealt with his first major injury—and how he plans to come back stronger than ever. This is his story presented in his own words, edited for length and clarity: 
 
The first thought to go through my mind after the injury: "Bad timing. This can't be real."
As I laid on the field, I threw my arms in the air and took off my helmet. The immediate adversity of it caught up with me. 
I didn't know who pushed me in the back to cause the inju...

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