April 01--A dark blue hook cloaked the braids on Jaylon Smith's head Thursday.
The former Notre Dame linebacker couldn't run -- thanks to a bum left knee -- and he couldn't hide Thursday during pro day.
An audience of 72 NFL representatives from 31 teams was there to watch 16 other players run in their underwear and perform drills ahead of this year's draft April 28-30 in Chicago.
But thanks to a recovering torn MCL and LCL and some possible nerve damage in his knee, Smith's heavy lifting was limited to 24 reps of 225 pounds in the weight room during this audition. He spent the rest of the time standing on the field chatting with former teammates and absorbing what he couldn't do.
The All-American spoke with the media for a minute or so before making his way out of the Loftus Sport Complex. Multiple reports from the NFL combine last month suggested some teams were very concerned about that possible nerve damage, which at first Smith denied having before reneging. He was vague about the possibility Thursday.
"A few weeks (since the combine) have made a huge difference, even the past two weeks," Smith said. "I can feel it."
He said his rehab is "going great" and that he's leg-pressing over 600 pounds and squatting over 400.
"I am getting that strength back," he said. "It's just a matter of time."
Smith is scheduled to have a medical recheck on the knee in mid-April. The injury could keep him off the field all of next season. He had been projected to be a top-10 pick by many draft experts.
"He's a unique spirit," Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. "Even after the injury his entire demeanor, attitude was much different than most would carry in that scenario."
VanGorder said Smith has been "very positive, very upbeat" in the conversations the two have had since Smith merged onto the road to recovery after having surgery Jan. 7 in Dallas.
"While in the moment it can be a little bit stressful and high-anxiety bound, he's got to trust time," VanGorder said. "These things pass. ... He's gonna have a hell of a career."
Ishaq is back: Ishaq Williams hasn't played football in two seasons but he was back at Notre Dame on Thursday for pro day. Williams was suspended for the 2014 season as a result of an academic fraud investigation and was denied reinstatement by the NCAA for the 2015 season even though he was readmitted to the school.
"There was a little hesitation. I thought football was over for a while," Williams said.
Did he feel wronged by the NCAA?
"That's above my pay grade," he said. "I just do what I can do."
Williams was among three former Irish players there, along with Everett Golson (Florida State) and Matt Hegarty (Oregon).
Day has his day: Sheldon Day hasn't had to leave his home state of Indiana much since his quest for the NFL began. The combine was held in his hometown of Indianapolis in February and was followed Thursday by pro day in South Bend.
Day said he isn't sure yet where he will be on draft day, which is about 90 miles away from South Bend in Chicago.
The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder's stock has dropped a bit, from a projected first- or second-rounder to third or fourth, but he insisted he hasn't noticed.
"I don't get into all that," Day said. "Coach Kelly taught us, 'Don't listen to the noise."
pskrbina@tribpub.com
