S, Notre Dame
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 220 lbs
Class: Junior
Hamilton was a four-star recruit back in 2019 and the No. 5 safety in the class. He committed to Notre Dame over offers from the likes of Georgia, Ohio State, and Clemson and has gone from strength to strength ever since. He was voted First Team All-ACC in his first year as a starter in 2020 and has allowed a career passer rating of just 20.4. Don’t be surprised if Hamilton becomes just the third safety in the last 30 years to be taken inside the top five.
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Strengths
The first thing you notice when watching Hamilton is his physical profile. He stands at 6’4″ and 220 lbs but moves like a much smaller defensive back. His athletic traits saw him listed at No. 3 on Bruce Feldman’s 2021 ‘Freaks List’, with a 41.7″ vertical and a broad jump of 10’8″. These testing numbers show up on tape too, with Hamilton displaying excellent burst and range as a single-high safety.
This makes him one of the most versatile defenders in college football. Hamilton has shown himself to be comfortable at a number of positions and will give NFL defensive coordinators plenty to work with. He has played primarily as a free safety for Notre Dame, but also has the physicality and play strength to play around the line of scrimmage. 21% of his career snaps have come in the box, whilst he has also logged 28% of his snaps at slot corner.
The modern NFL is all about the passing game and Hamilton ticks the box where coverage skill is concerned. He showcases excellent processing skills to recognise route combinations and possesses some of the best instincts you will see on a football field. This allows him to make plenty of plays at the catch point. Hamilton has logged an impressive 21 forced incompletions on his 71 career targets. His fluidity and smooth hips also allow him to work effectively in man coverage on slot receivers and tight ends. Hamilton has never allowed 50+ yards in coverage in a single game.
Another of Hamilton’s biggest strengths is his ability in run support and as an open field tackler. He is quick to key against the run and takes good pursuit angles. His length is an asset here, allowing him to deconstruct blocks and make plays on the ball carrier. As a tackler he shows good form and he has the tackle radius and play strength to stop runners in their tracks. So far this season, Hamilton has logged just a single miss on 19 tackle attempts.
Weaknesses
Hamilton’s biggest weakness is his over-eagerness to make big plays. Whilst he tends to read the game well, there have been a number of occasions where he jumps routes or comes downhill without correctly recognising the play. This has led to missed assignments in coverage and poor approach angles as a tackler. This is the kind of thing that NFL offenses will scheme against and he needs to show more discipline.
The other, more minor concern, will be his over-aggression. Teams like hard-hitting safeties, but Hamilton can take things too far at times. He has six penalties called against him in college, including several targeting calls that resulted in ejection. Teams will want to see him reign in those more aggressive plays.
Bottom Line
Hamilton is easily one of the best prospects in the 2022 Draft and could well be the best defensive player in all of college football. His combination of size and athletic ability is rare and this, coupled with his playmaking in coverage and ability as a run defender, will see him drafted very highly in April. He has all of the traits to become one of the very best safeties in the NFL.
Role: Hybrid safety with All-Pro potential
Round Projection: 1st round (top ten)