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Notre Dame Football: Kyle Hamilton named a top-10 returning DB

By Brad Weiss

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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The Notre Dame Football program will have to replace multiple defensive stars in 2021, but Kyle Hamilton returns as a top-10 DB in college football.

Heading into the 2021 college football season, the Notre Dame Football team has a special player at the heart of their defensive backfield. Kyle Hamilton played mostly in a backup role in 2019, making only one start, but he did appear in 13 games, giving him the kind of experience needed to crack the starting lineup in 2020.

This past season, he rounded into one of the best defensive backs in all of college football, helping lead this Irish defense in a perfect regular season in ACC play. An All-American, Hamilton proved to be exactly what Clark Lea needed in his secondary and will go into next season as a potential first-round draft pick.

Hamilton will lead a young group in the defensive backfield in 2021, and one outlet feels he is one of the best defensive backs returning.

Notre Dame Football star safety Kyle Hamilton top-10 DB in the country

In recently putting together a list of the top-10 defensive backs returning for the 2021 college football season, Hamilton was ranked, coming in at No. 6 overall by Pro Football Focus. He was the second safety listed, behind No. 5 Tykee Smith from West Virginia, a dominant defensive back in his own right.

Like Hamilton, Smith is entering his third season at the collegiate level, and while he is a great player, he was not as productive as Hamilton last season. Smith had two interceptions, both in the red zone and 61 tackles last season, while Hamilton had 63 tackles and one pick.

Also, teams just avoided Hamilton in the passing game, though he did finish with six passes defended for the second straight season. He also played his best football in the biggest moments, including a ten-tackle effort in the ACC title game to go along with an interception.

Next. Notre Dame Football: 3 players who can’t afford a bad 2021 Pro Day. dark

In 2021, the Irish will have to replace a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball, but at safety, they have a proven leader who will be the key to their success. Hamilton will likely be a first-round pick in 2022, so this is probably his last season in South Bend, so let us sit back and enjoy one more season of him patrolling the Irish’s defensive backfield.

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