Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith announced on Monday that he is entering the 2016 NFL draft.
Smith made the announcement in a video on Twitter. He will forego his final season of NCAA eligibility to enter the draft despite the fact that he’s dealing with a knee injury. Before the knee injury he was projected to be a top-five pick, according to the Chicago Tribune. Smith will likely be evaluated at the NFL combine in February and possibly again before the draft.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell tweeted that Smith has a $5 million loss-of-value policy that he would collect if he dropped out of the first round.
"It's really just perseverance for me, with the adversity I'm going through right now, dealing with the knee injury," Smith said in a video statement. "I have the same vision; it's just a different path. I'm just really looking forward to this opportunity."
The linebacker tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 and had surgery to repair the tears last week.
This past season he had 113 tackles with nine tackles for loss, according to NFL.com. Smith also won the 2015 Butkus Award for being the nation’s top college linebacker.
Notre Dame has had five underclassmen declare for the draft. Smith joins running back C.J. Prosise, receiver Will Fuller, cornerback KeiVarae Russell, and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley on the list of Notre Dame players who have declared for the draft.