Jan. 09--Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith received positive news after having surgery on his left knee, according to a Sports Illustrated report.
The consensus All-American is expected to have a "full recovery" following the procedure to repair a torn ACL and LCL, a source told SI's Brian Hamilton. Smith had surgery Thursday in Dallas.
Smith suffered the injury in the first quarter of the Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. Concerns of possible nerve damage were put at ease in the report, as the source told SI "the nerve is healthy and in great condition."
Smith led the Irish with 114 tackles this season. He won the Butkus Award, presented to the top linebacker in college football.
Smith still is deciding whether to turn pro or return to Notre Dame for his senior season.
"He's an outstanding athlete, he moves faster than most linebackers you see," Dane Brugler, a senior NFL draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com and CBS Sports, said. "He's instinctive, as well. He has the awareness that you want. But obviously the injury puts him in limbo."
Underclassmen have until Jan. 18 to file for the draft. Most early projections had Smith as a high first-round pick. The injury adds a wrinkle.
"You just hate to see it for him, especially a player that does everything well," Brugler said. "He has worked his tail off for this opportunity to play in the NFL, and he will, but in terms of draft stock, it's going to take a tumble, but no one can say how much.
"Is it late first round? Is it early second round? No one can say with any certainty until teams have a chance to check in on the rehab in March and April and see what the recovery process looks like."
lpope@tribpub.com
