NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame junior safety Kyle Hamilton was named to the Bednarik Award watch list, and sophomore running back Kyren Williams earned selection to the Maxwell Award watch list Monday. The Bednarik Award recognizes the top defensive player in college football, and the Maxwell Award is presented to the nation’s top overall college player.
Hamilton is one of two returning Bednarik semifinalists on this season’s watch list. Former teammate Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was a finalist for the award in 2020.
Tabbed to the 2021 Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team, Hamilton was recognized as a second-team Walter Camp All-America honoree in 2020, while garnering a FWAA first-team selection and adding second-team nods from the AFCA and Associated Press.
Also named to the 2021 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, Hamilton enters his true junior season known as one of the top safeties on the college gridiron. The 2020 Bednarik Award semifinalist and first-team All-ACC selection led the Irish in tackles last season with 63 in just 11 games, adding an interception, six pass breakups and 4.5 TFL.
Hamilton had a career day in the ACC Championship game, pacing the Irish defense with 10 tackles (a career-high), one interception and an additional pass breakup. Hamilton totaled eight tackles in the first half alone.
Williams was selected to the 2020 FWAA Freshman All-America Team, and was one of three finalists for the Shaun Alexander/FWAA Freshman Player of the Year Award.
The ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year, Williams made a definitive mark on Notre Dame’s offense, and created a challenging matchup for defenses from across the FBS, in 2020. He was the only freshman to surpass 1,000 rushing yards on the year, totaling 1,125 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, the most rushing TDs among any freshman player. Williams reached the 100-yard rushing mark in six games in 2020.
Williams also added 35 receptions (ranking third on the Irish offense) for 313 yards and a touchdown. His 14 total touchdowns led all FBS freshmen.
Among all FBS players, Williams was tied for 10th in rushing TDs, tied for 11th in total TDs and ranked ninth in rushing yards. In the ACC, Williams ranked fourth in rushing yards per game (93.8), fourth in scoring – TDs (7.0 points/game) and fifth in all-purpose yards per game (119.83).
A semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, Williams earned an ACC weekly honor five times out of ten possible weeks in 2020, and was named All-ACC Second Team running back by the conference, also claiming honorable mention for the all-purpose slot. He was also selected to the Phil Steele All-America Third Team.