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Notre Dame Football: 3 Bold Predictions for 2020 Season

By Connor McJunkin

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 23: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball after an interception during a game against the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium on November 23, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 40-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 23: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball after an interception during a game against the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium on November 23, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 40-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Hamilton (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Kyle Hamilton Will be a Thorpe Award Finalist

Again, most of the Notre Dame fan base might not see this as too bold of a prediction, but after Hamilton was left off of the 49 player preseason watch list for the award, this might turn some heads.

Hamilton is coming off a true freshman campaign that saw 41 tackles, 6 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, and 1 touchdown. He allowed only seven receptions on 23 targets for 74 yards, with PFF giving him a team-best 89.8 coverage grade.

These numbers are impressive for any freshman, and are even more eye-catching when considering he was largely a rotational player, averaging just 32 defensive snaps per game.

Regardless, it was good enough to validate the hype around the 5-star high school recruit, who was named to multiple Freshman All-American teams at the conclusion of 2019 and has been selected as a Pre-season All-American heading into 2020.

It’s hard to deny that Hamilton is the best safety in the ACC one of the best safeties in the entire country, and will be a full-fledged starter and captain of the defense moving forward.

At 6-4 and now weighing 220 pounds, Hamilton is an absolute freak that is going to cause a lot of problems for opposing ACC offenses this season. When the season wraps up, whenever that may be, I have no doubt that Hamilton will find himself as a finalist for the award.

Next. Can the Irish rely on Jordan Johnson in 2020. dark

Notre Dame’s last finalist for the award was Julian Love in 2018 and since the award started in 1986, the Irish have never had a player dubbed as the top defensive back in college football.

That could very well change in 2020.

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