Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2016 RECRUITING ISSUE weeks before National Signing Day to stay home and ink with the Irish. And in 2011, five-star defensive end Stephon Tuitt committed to Georgia Tech in early January only to flip to Notre Dame two weeks later before once again decommitting and eventu- ally signing with the Irish. Five-star linebacker Daelin Hayes, who decommitted from USC last Oc- tober before choosing the Irish in De- cember, brings vast potential with a major concern to South Bend. Hayes, who has drawn comparisons to Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith, is regarded as a "freak athlete" like the former Irish linebacker who is ex- pected to be a top pick in the upcom- ing NFL Draft, but a series of shoulder injuries and a missed season because of transfer rules never allowed him to display much of that ability on the football field. Still, while Hayes might not have the snaps under his belt, Notre Dame did whatever they could to get him to break a 15-month pledge to USC — and for a telling reason. "I think the ceiling for him is to have a Jaylon Smith type of career," said Rivals Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt, who covered Smith com- ing out of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers back in 2013. "I think he can be the best linebacker in college football. He has that ability. "He unquestionably has a five-star skill set –– No. 1, he's on the plus side from a size standpoint. No. 2, he's on the plus side from an athleticism standpoint. And No. 3, he's on the plus side from a work ethic. All three