Kurt Hinish, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa provide hilarious description of Notre Dame pro day

The Notre Dame football team will have a glaringly obvious, 300-pound hole in its roster next year, as nose tackle and captain Kurt Hinish moves on to the NFL. 

The five-year player, who absolutely bleeds blue and gold and is known for his Kiss-esque eye black, had a larger-than-life personality and was a menace on the field while being the ultimately hype man on the sidelines. 

PROMOTION: Sign up for just $1 for your first year at Blue & Gold

Hinish’s character was on full display on Friday as he participated in Irish pro day, and it continued to shine through as he spoke with the media once the workout ended. First, the nose tackle discussed his top-notch bench press performance, one which certainly would have turned some heads in Indianapolis in early March at the NFL Combine. 

“I knew I’d get over 30, but when I actually got to 30, I didn’t know where I was until someone yelled out ‘30!’ I was like, ‘Damn, I’m pretty burnt out right now.’ So I just did one more to get 31.”

That 31 mark would have tied for second overall and been the most reps of any defensive player at the combine in early March. Boston College offensive guard Zion Johnson posted 32 reps, and UCLA defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia led all defensive players with 29.

“I thought I had a great showing in the (defensive) line drills,” Hinish said. “I’m not mad I wasn’t invited to the combine. I’m going to show up. That’s just how it is.”

Hinish will be heading home to Pittsburgh to continue training ahead of April’s draft. He is likely on the outside looking in, due in large part to his size, but it’s possible he sneaks into the seventh round.

Tagovailoa-Amosa took a page out of Hinish’s ritual book on Friday

Close followers of Notre Dame football are probably aware Hinish has quite the pre-game “ritual,” if you will. He typically throws up before games. 

Friday wasn’t a game day, but it was a big day. Did Hinish…?

“I couldn’t because I had to keep my weight on,” Hinish joked. “Myron actually puked though!”

“Yeah, we switched today,” defensive lineman and fellow 2021 captain Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa said with a massive smile. “After a drill, I was upset, so I just walked into the bathroom and puked it out. I feel good now.”

“It’s different though,” Hinish retorted. “I puke because I’m getting ready to punch someone in the face, not because I’m going to run a 40.”

The linemen looked at each other and laughed. The reporters laughed. It was a reminder how much the two players’ attitudes have meant to the team; even if they aren’t going to be first-round draft picks, they added an unmatched character to the locker room and will do the same at the next level should they get the opportunity.  

Irish captain hoped to put better foot forward on Friday

Tagovailoa-Amosa was actually at the NFL Combine but returned to Notre Dame pro day to compete in a few more drills at the Irish Athletic Center. He wasn’t thrilled with his performance in Indianapolis, finishing 13th of 17 in the 40-yard dash and 18th of 19 in the vertical jump among defensive ends.

“I really wanted to put forward my best tape,” the lineman said. “The scouts are just out here doing their job. I can’t get mad at that. I just wanted to get the best time I could. Some things don’t work out as planned, but it is what it is. We just keep going.”

With the testing behind him, Tagovailoa-Amosa is looking forward to a return to normal training.

“Now I get to go back to being a football player, not a track star.”

Unlike Hinish, Tagovailoa-Amosa will stick around South Bend in the coming weeks. He is an expected Day 3 selection. 

Full pro day results for the Notre Dame players can be found here.