Notre Dame's Smith, Day, Fuller named USA Today All-Americans
IRISH STEW
Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith, defensive tackle Sheldon Day and wide receiver Will Fuller were named USA Today All-Americans on Tuesday.
Smith and Day, both defensive captains, were named to the first team, while Fuller received second team honors.
A 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior, Smith led the Irish in tackles (113) and pass break ups (5) in 2015, notching 48 more tackles than the team's second-leading tackler (Joe Schmidt). Smith joined Manti Te'o as the only players in the Brian Kelly Era at Notre Dame to eclipse 100 tackles in consecutive seasons.
Day — a 6-3, 285-pound senior — was again the anchor of Notre Dame's defensive line, racking up a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss to go along with 41 tackles and four sacks.
Fuller again proved to be perhaps the most lethal deep threat in the country, making 56 catches for 1,145 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging a whopping 20.4 yards per catch. Nine of Fuller's 13 touchdowns, in fact, measured at least 30 yards.
CFP and AP No. 8 Notre Dame (10-2) will meet CFP and AP No. 7 Ohio State (11-1) in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
