Dec. 17--Twenty-two years have passed since Notre Dame has had a pair of consensus All-Americans.
Linebacker Jaylon Smith and left tackle Ronnie Stanley put an end to that streak Thursday when they were recognized with the honor by being named first-team on at least three of the five teams used to determine such status.
They are the 82nd and 83rd different Notre Dame players to be named consensus All-Americans, and the 98th and 99th overall, the most of any program.
The American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation teams are considered.
Smith, a junior, and Stanley, a senior, are the first Irish teammates to be named consensus All-Americans since 1993, when offensive lineman Aaron Taylor and cornerback Jeff Burris did it. Stanley is the first Irish offensive lineman since Taylor to earn the distinction.
Manti Te'o (2012) was the last Notre Dame linebacker to do it.
Smith was named first-team by the AFCA, AP, Sporting News and WCFF.
Stanley was picked first team by the AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News and WCFF.
Smith, who won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, has a team-high 113 tackles, including nine for a loss, and five pass breakups. He led the Irish in tackles for the second year in a row.
Stanley was the best of a group of that was a finalist for national offensive line of the year. He helped pave the way for the Irish to average 471.5 yards per game, including 214.8 rushing. The Irish averaged 5.8 yards per carry, a modern school record.
Both are projected to be top-10 picks in the NFL draft, should they enter as expected.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
