ND's Kyle Hamilton skipping Fiesta Bowl, entering draft

Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Kyle Hamilton Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame star safety Kyle Hamilton skipping Fiesta Bowl, entering NFL Draft

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/10/21

Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly told reporters last month that star safety Kyle Hamilton could miss at least the rest of the regular season because of the knee injury he suffered in a win over the USC Trojans on Oct. 23.

The next time Hamilton plays in a competitive and meaningful game, it will probably be on a Sunday.

As Caroline Pineda wrote for NBC Sports' Inside the Irish, Hamilton took to social media Friday to confirm he's opting out of the upcoming Fiesta Bowl matchup versus the Oklahoma State Cowboys and entering the 2022 NFL Draft:

Thank you Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/IGvH9GzLbO
— Kyle Hamilton (@kyledhamilton_) December 10, 2021

Hamilton recorded three interceptions, 34 total tackles and four pass breakups this fall before his injury, and the junior with multiple All-American honors on his resume won't have to wait long to hear his name called on the opening night of next year's draft.

In mock drafts updated this week, Ryan Wilson, Chris Trapasso and Josh Edwards of CBS Sports all predicted Hamilton will, at worst, be a top-seven pick. Trapasso has Hamilton going off the board fifth overall.

For a piece published Tuesday, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. listed Hamilton as the No. 4 overall prospect for the 2022 class.

"He's one of the most versatile defenders in the country," Kiper said of Hamilton. "He had two interceptions against Florida State and added another in the win over Purdue. He now has eight in his career since 2019.

"Hamilton has the size to move up to the line of scrimmage and help in the running game and the speed and range to cover pass-catchers out of the slot. He's exactly what NFL teams want in their first-round safeties."

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