WATCH: Mina Kimes reveals bold choice as her best player in 2022 NFL Draft

Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton has been one of the more intriguing prospects as the NFL Draft inches closer, and while he’s certainly regarded as one of the top defensive backs of the 2022 class, ESPN’s Mina Kimes believes the Fighting Irish safety deserves the highest imaginable honor.

There’s a consensus that Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton is the best safety in the draft. But I also think he’s the best player, period. pic.twitter.com/KbLBRormnf

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 6, 2022

I am so happy because I was so nervous about saying that Kyle Hamilton is the best player in this draft,” Kimes said. “And maybe more importantly, the best player for this moment in football in response to the explosion in passing over the last decade, defenses are now asking so much out of safeties. More disguise, more versatility and versatility is what this guy has in spades.”

In his three seasons at Notre Dame, Hamilton earned a bevy of awards and honors including the Athletic All-American as a freshman and Associated Press second-team All American his senior year. He was named a Phil Steele All-American the last two seasons as well as earning the honor of team captain in 2021.

Kyle Hamilton recorded 138 total tackles 97 of which were solo, 17 pass deflections and eight interceptions during his 31 games in South Bend.

Kimes believes the safety is truly a generational type player that can be the building block for a team looking to reassemble its defense.

“I mean he can play deep middle, he can play split safety, he can play in the box, he can play in the slot, he can blitz.,” Kimes continued. “And he has the size, the range and the ball skills to do all of those things at an elite level. I don’t know how high he’s going to get drafted, he’s a safety, but if I was rebuilding defense would want to rebuild the whole thing around this guy.”

Daniel Jeremiah is widely regarded as one of the top talent evaluators and in his most recent mock draft on NFL.com, he pegs Kyle Hamilton as the No. 3 overall selection to the Houston Texans, so Kimes’ strong take has merit for sure.

Kyle Hamilton calls out NBA star Steph Curry

The Inside the Garage podcast crew that consists of four Notre Dame players from the 2021 season — headlined by All-American safety Kyle Hamilton — recently made it out to Los Angeles to meet with Colin Cowherd, the founder of The Volume Sports Network, the podcast company that hosts ITG.

In a snippet that was posted to The Volume twitter account, Hamilton made a bold comment about how he could beat Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, a three-time NBA champion and eight-time All-Star in a game of one-on-one.

“In a game to 11 just me and him, I don’t see him getting around me,” Hamilton said. “I’m going to put my hand in his face, and I have about 25 pounds on him. I think I can get by him and am more athletic than him.”

Whether Hamilton was joking or not is up to interpretation, but regardless it was a fun segment between Cowherd, Hamilton and his former teammates.

“I think I can get to the basket, can stay in front of him and contest his shot,” Kyle Hamilton continued