2022 NFL Draft Player Profiles: Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton

From now until the 2022 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, I’ll be profiling one of the top prospects in the draft, Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.

Kyle Hamilton/S Notre Dame – 6’4 219

Measurables

The Good

— Rare size and length, will be one of the biggest safeties in the game, fills out frame well and has a physically imposing, “first guy off the bus” type of build
— Tremendously well-rounded skillset, little he’s unable to do and wasn’t asked to do
— Elite range and truly covers the entire field, fantastic closing speed
— Explosive player downhill with a quick trigger, long-strider and able to cover a ton of ground
— Uses his size to his advantage, length makes him able to break up passes thrown above/away from him
— Big tackling range and excellent wrap up tackler who is able to come to balance and make open field stops
— Plays to size and displays good hit power, ballcarriers rarely break out of his tackles or fall forward for additional YAC
— Receiver-like hands with good coordination and ability to finish the play, does more than just breaks passes up, able to take the ball away
— Versatile, played all over the defense, work as box safety, linebacker, post safety, slot, outside corner
— Mix of man and zone and comfortable with both
— High football IQ, has great understanding and feel for route concepts and routinely able to jump routes
— Shows ability to break down and change directions underneath, not stiff-hipped despite height and frame
— Good speed and able to carry vertically against fades/go routes
— Good pre-snap communicator
— Played well in big-time moments against quality opponents
— Clutch player who came up in marquee moments
— Worked on special teams, even in final year, and asset on coverage units
— Highly productive career overall and a highly decorated player, regarded as team leader

— Occasionally will take too shallow of an angle from deep safety position
— Lacks elite speed due to size and bulk
— Needs to be more physical in press/slot alignment against small receivers
— Not a pure, natural coverage player in man situations and will give up separation at top of vertical breaking routes (posts/corners)
— Despite size and hit power, never forced a fumble in career
— Minor medical concerns, missed rest of 2021 season due to injury

— Two-year, full-time starter for the Fighting Irish
— Team captain in 2021
— Career: 138 tackles (7.