Notre Dame star linebacker Jaylon Smith received the ultimate honor for a linebacker on Tuesday when he was named the 2015 Butkus Award winner. In process Smith joined a select and elite group of linebackers to win the award at both the high school and college level – a group that is now comprised of just two players, Smith and former Notre Dame great Manti Te’o.

Jaylon Smith arrived to Notre Dame with much hype three years ago as the High School Butkus Award winner and the pedigree of a 5-star recruit.