Newsstand: Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton takes center stage in Sunday’s NFL Combine

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On3 image — Kyle Hamilton performed relatively well during his NFL Combine outing on Sunday. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

It was a huge weekend for Notre Dame athletics between the NFL Combine, men’s basketball senior day, women’s basketball in the ACC Tournament, hockey in the Big Ten Tournament and baseball in the Cambria College Classic, among other things.

On Sunday in Indianapolis, expected top-five NFL Draft selection Kyle Hamilton took center stage at the NFL Combine. Throughout the NFL Network broadcast, which featured defensive backs and specialists yesterday, commentators and experts Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah sang Hamilton’s praises, often when he wasn’t even on the screen. When they needed to fill some time, it was Hamilton they touted.

Hamilton’s combine got mixed reviews — especially after a wonky, seemingly subpar 40-yard dash — but it likely doesn’t matter too much. Hamilton will hear his name called during the first day of the draft on April 28 and become the first Irish defender drafted in the first round since Jerry Tillery (2019) and the first Irish defensive back drafted in the first round since Harrison Smith (2012).

Blue & Gold’s Patrick Engel has more on Hamilton’s Sunday performance here.

You can find some of the media reaction to Hamilton’s combine here.

In case you missed them, here are the NFL Combine live blogs for Jack Coan and Kevin Austin Jr.; Kyren Williams; and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa.

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Tweets of the weekend

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

This clip was on the Blue & Gold message board and in the media wrap-up piece above, but it’s too good not to share again. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes said Hamilton is the “best player in the draft.”

Another honor for @oliviamiles06, landing on the All-ACC Tournament 2nd Team. #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/HFZN86puFH
— Notre Dame WBB (@ndwbb) March 6, 2022

Notre Dame was eliminated in the ACC Tournament semifinals this weekend by Miami, but freshman guard Olivia Miles earned some recognition after scoring 24 points with 18 assists and eight rebounds over two games.

𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗪𝗜𝗡‼️#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/r8IrVL5HUc
— Notre Dame Women’s Lacrosse (@NDWomensLax) March 6, 2022

No. 16 Irish women’s lacrosse topped No. 13 Virginia on Sunday to move to 3-4 on the season.

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Quote of the weekend

“They believe, they have ownership of themselves, they believe they can play until April, and they’re right,” Brey said. “They can play for a long time. I told them that.”

— Notre Dame basketball head coach Mike Brey concerning his team’s postseason aspirations, per Engel

The full article can be found here.

More on Notre Dame’s 78-54 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday can be found here.