Star Performance: Kyle Hamilton

Notre Dame‘s star safety played a crucial role in their win over Purdue Saturday. Kyle Hamilton is a rare athlete with a combination of size, speed and range that is unmatched in college football. The Fighting Irish have not clicked on all cylinders yet this year, but Hamilton’s strong play led the team to a hard earned victory over Purdue 27 – 13.

Notre Dame is used to Hamilton making big plays at key moments and he did not disappoint on Saturday. Late in the first quarter with Purdue holding a 3 – 0 lead and facing 4th and 1in Notre Dame territory, the Boilermakers tried a jet sweep to Milton Wright. Wright appeared to have a clear path to turn the corner and make a big play, but Hamilton shot up from his safety spot and closed on the ball carrier to make the stop for no gain. His tackle kept Purdue from building an early lead and flipped the momentum back in Notre Dame’s favor.

Hamilton was all over the field making tackles and patrolling the secondary throughout the game. He made another huge play for his team late in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame was holding a 27 – 13 lead, but Purdue had moved the ball to the Irish 11 yard line. The Boilermakers took a shot at the end-zone with a pass to the tight end, but the ball was tipped and Hamilton showed off his quick reflexes with a slick interception. The late pick ended the drive and effectively ended the game. With a two score lead and the ball, Notre Dame was well-positioned to force Purdue to burn their timeouts and run out the clock.

Kyle Hamilton is off to a strong start in 2021 and turned in another dominant performance against Purdue. He showcased his versatile skill set, impacting the game in all facets and leading the Fighting Irish defense in a big performance. Hamilton accounted for 10 tackles, 1 interception and 2 pass breakups during the game. He also played a key role in slowing down star Purdue receiver, David Bell, and again proved he is one of the best defenders in college football.

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