Everything Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton said to Colin Cowherd ahead of NFL Draft

It helps to have connections.

When Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton wasn’t picking off passes and making plays in a blue and gold uniform in his final few games as a collegiate player last fall, he was podcasting as one of four hosts on The Volume’s “Inside the Garage” podcast. The Volume was founded by Fox Sports radio host Colin Cowherd.

Cowherd and Hamilton have crafted a working relationship. The exposure has been good for the potential top-10 2022 NFL Draft pick. Wednesday, Cowherd hosted Hamilton on The Herd. After he bid adieu to Hamilton, Cowherd said front office executives from two NFL teams called him recently to ask about Hamilton.

How’s that for “it’s all about who you know”?

Here’s everything Hamilton said during Wednesday’s show.

Cowherd: Are you anxious about the draft?

Hamilton: “A little anxious. A little nervous. Excited, obviously. I feel like throughout the draft process, I’ve taken a step back to process everything. I can say I’m most likely, knock on wood, going to be a first-round draft pick. It’s the dream no matter where I go. It’s fun at the end of the day.”

Cowherd: What kind of NFL player do you envision yourself being?

Hamilton: “Somebody who is a great locker room guy. A great communicator. I feel like I can be a cornerstone of an organization for however long they’ll have me. I’m just excited to prove all of that. I feel like the sky is the limit.”

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Cowherd: What would you say to people who don’t think high picks should be used on safeties?

Hamilton: “I think the game is changing. Guys like Derwin (James), versatile guys, are more needed. I feel like I fit that mold. At one point, everyone was running the triple-option. Football has changed. This is just part of it. Maybe I’ll another guy to add to that. Ten years from now, who knows, maybe there will be another 6-4 safety who plays like me and people won’t have any questions.”

Cowherd: Is players prematurely entering the NCAA transfer portal an issue in the college game?

Hamilton: “I think it definitely is. It sucks because there is an added aspect of working through stuff like that that comes with college football. There are so many instances where guys don’t play until their third year and they have a great year and do great things. Every situation is not the same. Some are validated, some are shooting the gun early. The transfer portal is becoming somewhat of free agency now.”

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Cowherd: Are you worried too many recruits will make decisions based too much on NIL?

Hamilton: “Like I said, every situation is different. I’m sure some guys understand that and value stuff past the money. But at the same time, what I worry about is schools like Belmont or Davidson that have good basketball programs and are consistent year to year may not have the money to recruit and compete with other people and it would weed them out in a way. It would be a very top-heavy sport. I’m worried about how the less-endowed schools will compete with the bigger-name schools.”

Cowherd: How do you look at NIL having missed out on two years of not getting to utilize it?

Hamilton: “We got a little bit of it, but it was still very brand new. Definitely bittersweet. At the same time, it’s a little weird and makes getting to the next level — not that it’s less important — but maybe less significant if you’re making millions in college then go to the NFL where you might be making less. It’s kind of a crazy world we’re living in now, but it’s the new norm. But I’m all for it. It’s great to see kids make money for themselves, their families and loved ones and have an opportunity to provide at a young age and having an opportunity to figure out how to manage money and financial planning.”

Cowherd: Are there teams that stood out above the rest during the pre-draft process?

Hamilton: “Hopefully they all see me as someone who fits with them. But at the same time, it’s kind of weird because I know as much as you do in terms of where I’m going to get drafted and who is going to draft me. This whole process was really just a smokescreen. It’s all these rumors and Twitter GMs. It’s kind of a hectic process. I have no clue at this point.”