Freshman Jaylon Smith has steadily improved at the Dog linebacker position during his first six games at the
college level, and his future is bright as a leader of the Irish defense in years to come.
photo by bill panzica
when Deeb, Reading, Pa., native Alex
Anzalone, and Spokane, Wash., resident
Danny Mattingly all gave verbal commitments to Notre Dame.
By the fall, Mattingly had retracted
and ended up at Oregon, where he is
currently aligned as a reserve strongside linebacker. Then in the 11th hour
of January 2013, Anzalone, a 247Sports
five-star prospect who switched from
Ohio State in the spring to Notre
Dame, opted to sign with the Florida
Gators as an early enrollee. (Anzalone had labrum surgery this spring
and has appeared in four contests as
a backup.)
Meanwhile, current inside linebacker starters Fox at the Mike and
Calabrese at the Will are in their final
seasons of eligibility.
Next spring, the Irish will have
Grace, former preferred walk-on Joe
