Notre Dame Football’s End of Season Superlatives: Top Newcomer
Notre Dame had a lot young guys produce a ton for the program in 2019, but a star true freshman solidified this award early on.
Our preseason list was chalk full of choices with Jarrett Patterson and Kyle Hamilton receiving 2 votes apiece, while Kyren Williams and Jacob Lacey both received 1. In our mid-season article, Hamilton would take home 8 of 9 votes. Now that the regular season is finished, our writer’s still agree for the most part on who should be considered Notre Dame‘s top Newcomer.
While Patterson was very effective as a red-shirt freshman and first year starter, there were certainly inconsistencies in his game that forced our writer’s to rethink their preseason vote. Jacob Lacey had an impressive true freshman campaign as a backup defensive tackle, and in many years might have one this vote. Kyren Williams ended up playing four games and red-shirting. For all intents and purposes, this was an easy decision.
Top Newcomer: Kyle Hamilton (6 of 7 votes)
Others receiving votes: Jacob Lacey
Let me preface this by saying, the one contributor that voted for Lacey specifically told me that they knew everyone was going to vote for Hamilton, and simply wanted to show Lacey some love for his season. However, the deserving man won the award and the future is extremely bright for Hamilton.
What Hamilton did this season would be a really solid safety season for a senior looking to be drafted in the early to middle rounds, let alone the fact he was a true freshman that enrolled in the summer. He finished 7th on the team in tackles with 39, tied for the team lead in passes defended (6) with Tariq Bracy and finished for the team lead in interceptions with 4. The next closest was Jalen Elliott with 2.
Even Pro Football Focus agreed with Hamilton’s spectacular freshman campaign. According to their tracking, he allowed 7 catches for 74 yards, 0 touchdowns on 22 total targets. That is a quarterback rating of 3. I think that is good. Every time he was on the field he was around the ball and making plays either against the run or the pass, and these numbers back that up. It also just sounds different when he hits someone, as I can recall numerous big hits or tackles that stood out on film. He flashed in everything that he did.
Next. All-Decade Tight End. dark
Notre Dame fans should count their lucky stars — or in this case, clovers — that Hamilton chose the Irish, and never take him for granted. We likely only have 2 years left of him.