Notre Dame football: Draft-eligible players we would like back in 2022

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Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Kyle Hamilton (14) watches warm-ups before the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Draft-eligible players we would like back in 2022

Kyle Hamilton, Safety

When the 2021 season kicked off, one name that stood out above the rest in terms of this Notre Dame football team was safety Kyle Hamilton. Considered one of the best players in the country, Hamilton is ticketed for the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, so any chance of him coming back is probably slim to none.

Most mock drafts have Hamilton going within the top-5 picks and based on his size, and athletic ability, he is going to be a Day 1 starter at the next level. For the Irish, their big hope is that they can make it to the College Football Playoff after the games today, and Hamilton returns for a run at the national title.

Hamilton is a special talent, and when all is said and done, he is likely going to be an All-Pro player in the NFL for years to come. If he returned, it would certainly bolster this Irish defense, but Freeman has been able to make it work without him, as he has not played since being injured in the USC win.

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