SOUTH BEND, Ind. — University of Notre Dame football safety Kyle Hamilton was named a semifinalist for the 2021 Bednarik Award on Monday. The Bednarik Award recognizes the top defensive player in college football.
Hamilton leads the Irish with three interceptions, which ranks tied for 10th nationally, and four pass breakups on the season, while ranking second on the team with 35 tackles. He was recently named a Midseason All-America First Team selection by the Associated Press, Sporting News, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, The Athletic and Athlon Sports.
Hamilton opened the season with two interceptions in Notre Dame’s road-overtime win over Florida State. He was the first Irish player to have two interceptions in a game since Alohi Gilman in 2018 against Syracuse. For his efforts against the Seminoles, he earned LOTT Impact Player of the Week honors.
In the Irish’s home win over Purdue, Hamilton tied a career high with 10 tackles, including one to halt a Purdue fourth down conversion attempt in the first half. Later in the fourth quarter, Hamilton recorded his third interception of the season in the red zone to thwart a Purdue comeback attempt. Following his performance against the Boilermakers, he garnered player of the week awards from Walter Camp, Athlon, Pro Football Focus and was named the Bednarik Award Player of the Week.
Three finalists for the award will be named on November 23. The winner will be announced at the presentation gala on March 22, 2022 in Atlantic City. The Irish look to have a Bednarik Award finalist for the second-straight season as linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was one of three finalists during the 2020 season.
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