Former Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith came off the board in the NFL Draft on Friday evening and is headed to Dallas after the Cowboys selected him with the 34th overall pick, the third in the second round.
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The Dallas Cowboys’ first-round NFL football draft pick, running back Ezekiel Elliott, center, arrives at Valley Ranch, the team’s headquarters and training facility, Friday, April 29, 2016, in Irving, Texas. However, the Cowboys had all the medical information needed on Smith – their team doctor, Dan Cooper, performed the surgery.
In the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the predominant storyline was essentially how chaotic everything became with top-tier talents falling way below where they were projected to go.
For context’s sake, Prisco gave the Cowboys a B- a year ago (while saying Randy Gregory was the make or break player.) and a B in 2014, praising the team for it’s selection of Demarcus Lawrence (and staying away from Johnny Manziel).
He tore the anterior meniscus in his right knee in a September practice – a far less serious injury than Smith’s – and is expected to play in 2016, but teams have concerns about his long-term health.
A standout for Bishop Luers High School, Smith played both linebacker and running back for the Knights.
Smith, a native of Fort Wayne, was Notre Dame’s leading tackler the past two seasons with 113 and 112, respectively. “It’s just something that’s, I wouldn’t even say frowned upon, just something that’s nonexistent in most southern homes”. Kellen Moore, the current back, lost to the last two games, while Jameill Showers spent most of the season on the practice squad. “Pushing Tony Romo, pushing the other guys, Kellen Moore, and just knowing while doing that I’m making myself better and making the whole team better”. A healthy Smith would have been the top player in the class. Ohio State defeated Alabama in that game, 42-35, and Elliott won the Offensive Player of the Game award.
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“He was the chance to give us the most impact plays”. “I’m only three-and-a-half months out, so time will definitely tell, but the knee is fine”.
