Episode No. 8 of the Irish Illustrated Interviews podcast series features linebacker Jaylon Smith, a high school and collegiate Butkus Award winner, a two-time All-American at Notre Dame, and a 10-year NFL veteran. He played for the Fighting Irish from 2013 to 2015, leading Notre Dame in tackles and havoc plays in his final season as a junior, a campaign that ended with a trip to the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Unfortunately, in the loss to the Buckeyes, Smith also suffered a devastating injury, tearing his ACL and LCL and enduring significant nerve damage. As a result, he fell from a projected top-five pick to an early second-round selection, with several teams unsure if he'd be able to play football again. Nevertheless, Smith preserved. After sitting out his rookie year with the Dallas Cowboys, he returned to the gridiron a season later and eventually became a Pro Bowler in the midst of a decade-long NFL career. Our conversation spans his entire playing career. Plus, we dive into how he overcame his injury and how he's currently investing in the South Bend community by opening JINYA Ramen Bar on Eddy Street, directly across from campus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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