Sources: ND LB Jaylon Smith to have knee surgery

ByChris Mortensen ESPN logo
Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith will undergo reconstructive knee surgery on Thursday to repair damage that includes a torn ACL and MCL, according to sources.

The surgery could impact Smith's 2016 NFL draft status if he still decides to forgo his senior season, according to league sources. He has been projected as a potential top five or 10 draft selection.

Smith is still expecting to apply for draft eligibility, school sources said.

Smith suffered what Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly described as a "significant" left knee injury early in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

Smith was the 2015 Butkus Award winner as the nation's top collegiate linebacker.

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