Ourlads' Profile:
2016 Guide: What Ourlads' NFL Scouting Services said about JAYLON SMITH: Notre Dame, 6020 223 4.65. Junior entry. Three-year starter from Fort Wayne, IN. Injured his left knee in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Early reports confirm that it was an ACL, PCL, and nerve damage. Some teams may take him off their draft boards, other teams may draft him if the long term prognosis is good, most likely from the third round compensatory area down. Led the Irish in tackles and pass breakups in 2015. Quick initial read and react. Aggressive attacking downhill. At his best chasing across the field from the backside. Has good hustle on plays away and takes good angles to the ball. Tracks well in the box moving forward and shows good agility, with fluid change of direction. Has a quick punch when attacking blockers and uses his hands well to ward off low blocks. He does not stay blocked. With a clean path to the ball carrier he is a secure tackler and doesn’t miss very often. Can play in space. Takes good pass drops and reacts quickly on the ball. Shows good man skill and has a closing burst when the ball in the air. Good blitz aptitude. Rarely takes a bad angle in pursuit. He will go back door and occasionally under run as a result. Can be blocked straight on as he lacks ideal power. Somewhat inconsistent working off a block and can get upright trying to locate the ball. Inconsistent with zone awareness as he will lock on the quarterback and not see receivers. When blitzing from the edge he struggles when blocked as he tends to get upright. Needs to develop better pass rush moves to be effective as an edge blitzer. A solid player who could play inside or outside depending on the defense. Not a finished product but he has first round talent with the tools to be a great pro. 2015 stats: 114 T, 9 TFL, 1 sack, 5 PBU, 6 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, left knee. Third/fourth round. (A-33, H-9 1/2, BP-DNP, SS-DNP).