Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1264448
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 113 "It kind of paints the picture how good a knack for the ball he has back there." The cancellation of all but one spring practice has, for now, brought the Hamilton hype down to a simmer. Kelly would also be quick to remind that lost in Hamilton's idyllic displays of range and instincts were some plays that revealed his freshman classi- fication. Prior to Notre Dame's final regular- season game, the coach took a moment to offer a critique. "Continue to develop in the tackling department," Kelly said. "He has to come downhill and keep being part of our run fit." Run defense was his lowest-graded area, per PFF, which gave him a below-average 46.7 grade there and credited him with 10 missed tackles in 2019. He had only four games with a 60.0 or above run defense grade. When Hamilton returned to campus in June, he did so having gained nearly 10 pounds since classes were canceled and players sent home in mid-March. One of Hamilton's closest friends is Virginia line- backer Nick Jackson, who has a basement weight room with a squat rack and bench press courtesy of Jackson's father. Hamilton was welcome to use it anytime. Derrek said Kyle came home in March at about 218 pounds. He left around 225, which when combined with his 76-inch frame gives him the look of a professional athlete — save for one area. The matter of holey shoes still needs ad- dressing. ✦ Kyle Hamilton was too valuable to keep off the field, even at a position with two entrenched starters. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and defensive coordinator Clark Lea found a way to strike a balance of allowing him to help while keeping starting safeties Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliott on the field as much as possible, too. It involved three-safety formations and sticking Hamilton at slot corner. All told, Notre Dame's star freshman safety averaged 32 defensive snaps per game, according to Pro Football Focus. He had four interceptions, six passes broken up and was Notre Dame's highest-graded defender in coverage, per PFF. Accordingly, Hamilton earned a spot on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team. Hamilton was the fifth player since Kelly took over in 2010 to earn a spot on the FWAA's Freshman All- America squad and the seventh since it became a yearly award in 2001. None of the first six Irish play- ers went on to earn regular All-America status, but four played at least one year in the NFL. Here is a look at their careers: Justin Yoon, kicker (2015) Freshman stats: 15 of 17 on field goals and 50 of 52 on extra points Rivals' top-ranked kicker in the 2015 class was Notre Dame's starter from 2015-18 and made 59 of 73 (80.8 percent) field goal attempts in his career. He made a pair of 50-yarders and 96.9 percent of his extra point attempts. With 367 ca- reer points, he is Notre Dame's all-time leading scorer. Nyles Morgan, linebacker (2014) Freshman stats: 47 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack The No. 72 overall player in the 2014 class made four starts as a freshman and appeared in 12 games. In 2015, though, he was rel- egated to backup duties behind Jaylon Smith (stunningly did not make Freshman AA in 2013), Joe Schmidt and James Onwualu. He had a team-high 94 tackles (6.0 for loss) in 2017 and 92 in 2017 (7.0 for loss). KeiVarae Russell, cornerback (2012) Freshman stats: 58 tackles, two interceptions and two passes broken up Rivals tabbed Russell as an "athlete" in 2012, and Notre Dame took advantage of the supposed versatility by moving him from running back to cornerback during fall camp. He became an opening-day starter for the team that went to the BCS title game. Russell was a reliable starter in 2013 and again 2015, but missed the 2014 season due to an academic suspension. The Kansas City Chiefs picked him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He's now a free agent. Aaron Lynch, defensive end (2011) Freshman stats: 33 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 14 QB hurries Lynch spent one year at Notre Dame, but it was a good one. He led the team in sacks and hurries, instantly delivering on his five-star status from some outlets. He had the appearance of a three-and-done first-round pick, but he trans- ferred to South Florida in 2012 to play near his hometown. Lynch played one year for a two-win Bulls team, notching 12.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. The San Francisco 49ers took him in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. He has 20 sacks in six NFL seasons and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in May. Ian Williams, nose tackle (2007) Freshman stats: 45 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss Williams started only two games as a freshman, but still finished with the sixth most tackles on the team — a rare spot for rotational interior linemen. He was a starter from 2008-10 and ended his Notre Dame career with 46 games played and 13.5 tackles for loss. He went undrafted in 2011, landed with the 49ers and stayed there until his NFL career ended in 2016. Sam Young, offensive tackle (2006) Freshman stats: 13 starts at right tackle The top offensive tackle in the 2006 class became the first true freshman Notre Dame offensive line - man to start a season opener since freshmen were awarded eligibility in 1972. He left with a school- record 50 starts on the offensive line. His succes - sor, Zack Martin, later broke it. Young was a sixth-round pick in 2010 and has played 10 NFL seasons as a backup offensive lineman. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, his sixth team. — Patrick Engel Nyles Morgan is one of seven Notre Dame players to be named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America since the honor's in- ception in 2001. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN Freshman All-America Honorees