Jaylon Smith can relate to the high expectations freshman linebacker Te'von Coney is dealing with heading into his freshman season.

Two years ago, Smith was thrust into a starting role after incumbent starter Danny Spond's career ended prematurely.

For Smith, year one was about reaching the field and staying on it. Last year, during a new defensive installation, he was moved inside to the Will linebacker position. In some ways, it was like a second freshman season with all of the newfound responsibilities in Brian VanGorder's defense.

Now, in year three, the standout talent has found a comfort level and can focus on being a leader for teammates like Coney.

"He's really trying to break out from just worrying about his own position and taking care of that to bringing other guys around," head coach Brian Kelly said. "He's been a great mentor for Te'von Coney, for example. He worked out with him all offseason, the seven-week program.

"He's really been outstanding in terms of reaching out and more than just worrying about himself. He's thinking about others now. That's one of the real great signs of being a leader. I think he's much more comfortable with his own position where he can start to now influence others."

Fellow linebacker Joe Schmidt, the 2014 team MVP, went down with a season-ending injury Nov. 1 and missed the final five games of the season, four of which resulted in defeats. Suddenly, Smith was expected to be a leader when he was still learning the ins and outs of his own position.

"Jaylon, a year ago, was really worried about himself getting lined up and knowing the defense, knowing what coverage he was in," linebackers coach Mike Elston said. "Now he's directing traffic and talking to the guys in front of him and talking to the guys behind him. Jaylon's doing a really good job with that."

Elston, the man that recruited Smith to South Bend, moved from defensive line coach during the offseason to head up the Irish linebackers. Few, if any, on the Notre Dame staff know the Fort Wayne, Ind., product as well as him.

"Definitely just keep improving as far as leading on and off the field," Smith said of his goals for his junior season. "I think having a bigger and more stable comfort at that position in this defense will be very helpful.

"I definitely [have] some more experience with it. I've kind of been a leader all my life, but as far as the Notre Dame team, I had to step up my sophomore year and it's something that was successful. We get everyone healthy and come back strong."

Smith went as far as saying his leadership role "is set in stone" on a unit that returns 10 of 11 Music City Bowl starters.

"The comfort is definitely there," Smith said. "We have experienced guys now, we're getting healthy again. We still love the defense. There are so many tools. Our inventory is increased tremendously and it's just about execution at the end of the day."

For the entire unit, a dreadful November was a learning experience and led to the 31-28 win over LSU to end the season. Smith hopes that momentum — and comfort — carries into the 2015 campaign.