Notre Dame Top Draft Prospects
- S Kyle Hamilton
- RB Kyren Williams
- DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
- QB Jack Coan
- WR Kevin Austin Jr
- DT Kurt Hinish
- LB Drew White
After a 11-2 season for Notre Dame, the Irish will look to bid farewell to a star-studded draft class. Notre Dame is notorious for producing elite offensive linemen, but this year it will be expecting numerous defensive players getting the call come draft night.
Note: Overall rank data from NFL Mock Draft Database
S Kyle Hamilton
Career Stats: 31 Games, 138 total tackles, 8 INT, 1 TD, 24 PD
Arguably the best player in this year’s draft class, Kyle Hamilton is a one-of-a-kind safety showcasing elite athleticism. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he is the fastest and heaviest hitter on the field. You will not find a bigger and faster safety than Hamilton for a very long time. His ability to cover the entire field is unmatched, making him a nightmare to play against for QBs. He baits QBs perfectly and hides in zones to be able to make a play on the ball. Hamilton is extremely reliable in the run game and fits perfectly in the box as well. Hamilton is basically a linebacker with an elite covering ability, making him one of the most special draft prospects the league has seen in a long time.
OVR Rank: 5th / Draft Projection: 5th Overall
RB Kyren Williams
Career Stats: 28 Games, 419 Carries, 2,153 YDS, 27 TDs, 78 Receptions, 675 YDS, 4 TD
Kyren Williams brought the juice and energy the Irish needed during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Williams’ contributions were monumental behind the Irish’s star-studded offensive line. He is a shifty back who can make plays when it matters most and flip momentum at any point in the game. However, Williams does not hold the physical attributes like past Irish running backs. At 5-foot-9 and 199 pounds, he is one of the most explosive backs you will see in this draft. Williams’ vision and change of direction is what allowed him to produce the numbers he did while in South Bend.
OVR Rank: 77th / Draft Projection: 3rd Round
DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
Career Stats: 50 Games, 75 total tackles, 17 TFL, 5.0 Sacks, 2 FF
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, cousin of Tua Tagovailoa, is looking to build upon the historical defensive linemen that have been drafted from South Bend. Tagovailoa-Amosa spent five seasons with the Irish, ending with a move from IDL to DE after losing 20 pounds. At 6-foot-2 and 268 pounds, Tagovailoa-Amosa’s versatility is great and something all scouts will love, but I expect him to be a IDL exclusively at the next level. He impacts the game more at the interior position and can utilize his speed off the line more effectively. His length and physicality allows him to win more battles inside than outside, creating opportunities to disrupt plays. Scouts will love his hustle and competitiveness, as Tagovailoa-Amosa showcases through his pursuit to the ball and constantly squeezing down the line to make a game-changing tackle.
OVR Rank: 187th / Draft Projection: 6th Round
QB Jack Coan
Career Stats: 38 Games, 66.8% Comp, 3,150 YDS, 48 TDs, 15 INTs
After losing the most winningest QB in Notre Dame history, Ian Book, the Irish had a massive gap to fill. Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan stepped in to bring his leadership after missing his previous season due to a right foot injury. Through many ups and downs in his final collegiate season, Coan showed elite accuracy and deep ball skills. Coan is a pure pocket passer that struggles with pocket awareness, as he took a lot of sacks that easily could have been avoided. Coan’s arm strength and touch on the ball will carry him up the draft boards, as he looks to improve his awareness and consistency overall.
OVR Rank: 233rd / Draft Projection: 7th Round
WR Kevin Austin Jr.
Career Stats: 26 Games, 54 Receptions, 996 YDS, 7 TDs, 18.4 YPC
Kevin Austin Jr. is a big question mark for a lot of scouts, as injuries and a marijuana suspension knocked him out nearly two full seasons of his collegiate career. The numbers do not show a lot of production, but Austin Jr. was an incredibly consistent receiver for the Irish. His jump ball ability is what makes him special. His length allows him to make special grabs wherever the ball is placed, making him a big threat and reliable in the red-zone. Due to only one full season, Austin Jr. still has a lot to develop. His separation, quickness off the ball, and blocking ability are all areas of improvement. Scouts will need to see Austin Jr. become more versatile in the pass game and show he is willing to block down low as well.
OVR Rank: 393rd / Draft Projection: UDFA
DT Kurt Hinish
Career Stats: 61 Games, 81 total tackles, 20 TFL, 7.5 Sacks
At 6-foot-1 and 300 pounds, Kurt Hinish is a physical and competitive interior lineman that brings the energy needed every play. Hinish holds the record for most games played by any Notre Dame player ever. Scouts will see Hinish has plenty of experience and production. He is relentless with his hands and feet. Due to his size, scouts will likely have him very low on their boards. But his competitiveness and quickness off the ball puts fear into every offensive lineman he goes against, no matter their size.
OVR Rank: N/A / Draft Projection: UDFA
LB Drew White
Career Stats: 41 Games, 199 total tackles (109 solo), 21.5 TFL, 5.0 Sacks
Another incredible leader during his time at Notre Dame, Drew White stepped up to fill an absence after star player Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was drafted. Like Hinish, White showcases a unique factor in his relentlessness. Every team wants a guy who is constantly hustling on defense and looking to make a play, and White is exactly that guy. His tacking consistency is his strong suit, as well as his pass-rushing abilities. His limited reps and weakness in coverage will result in him not being viewed very high on draft boards. White stays discipline and square in the open field, creating big plays and crucial tackles on the outside. He can read his keys very well in the pass game, but struggles in coverage and getting to where he needs to be during play action. Look for White to improve his versatility all around as an inside linebacker.
OVR Rank: 435th / Draft Projection: UDFA
About the author
Diehard Notre Dame fan who was born in Indiana. Moved to Virginia a few years ago and have since fell in love with ACC football and college football even more. I am attending the University of Cincinnati this fall to pursue a career in the sports industry, preferably player personnel/recruiting. My favorite CFB moment is witnessing Will Fuller catch the game-winning TD with 15 seconds left against Virginia in 2015.
