Kyle Hamilton Poised For A Breakout Season

Pro Football Focus believes Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton is poised for a breakout season

Bryan Driskell | May 29, 2020

Rising sophomore safety Kyle Hamilton continues to get a great deal of offseason attention. ESPN ranked him among the Top 10 returning safeties in the country, and Pro Football Focus has him among their potential breakout players in 2020.

PFF released a list of 37 players that could go into the season relatively unknown and as they put it, finishing as "bona fide superstars."

Here is what they had to say about Hamilton:

"Hamilton is among the players who could take their performance from good to elite in 2020. He started just once for the Fighting Irish in his true freshman season and flashed some insane playmaking ability in coverage. The 6-foot-4 safety allowed only seven catches on 23 targets in coverage while making four interceptions and breaking up another five passes en route to a 1:3 passer rating allowed."

The criteria of relatively unknown to bonafide superstar doesn't quite fit with Hamilton. The bonafide superstar part makes sense, and I don't think it would surprise many Irish fans if Hamilton did in fact emerge as one of the nation's top safeties.

But Hamilton doesn't strike me as a relatively unknown. He was a freshman All-American in 2019 after racking up 41 tackles, breaking up six passes and interception four more (official stats).

He constantly gets brought up when Notre Dame and the 2020 gets written about, which makes him not an unknown player. But their bigger point is him having a breakout, and that is where PFF is spot on.

Hamilton has a unique combination of tools, combining rare length with top-notch athleticism, tremendous instincts and a high football IQ. He will be counted on to become a playmaker in the Irish defense this season.

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Published May 29, 2020

BRYAN DRISKELL

Bryan Driskell is the publisher of Irish Breakdown and has been covering Notre Dame football for over a decade. A former college football player and coach, Bryan and Irish Breakdown bring a level of expertise and analysis that is unmatched. From providing in depth looks at the Fighting Irish, breaking news stories and honest recruiting analysis, Irish Breakdown has everything Notre Dame football fans want and need. Bryan was previous a football analyst for Blue & Gold Illustrated before launching Irish Breakdown. He coached college football at Duquesne University, Muhlenberg College, Christopher Newport University, Wittenberg University and Defiance College. During his coaching career he was a pass game coordinator, recruiting coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach and wide receivers coach. Bryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Salisbury University, where he played quarterback for the Sea Gulls. You can email Bryan at bryan@irishbreakdown.com. Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Follow Bryan on Twitter: @CoachD178Like and follow Irish Breakdown on FacebookSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter