SAFETIES
1. KYLE HAMILTON, Notre Dame (6-4, 217, 4.67, 1): Jumbo-sized safety, easily the biggest in the draft. “I probably would have said he was the No. 1 player in the draft before he ran,” said one scout. “I still think he’s a unique player. He doesn’t play that (slow 40 time) on film. You (could) argue he plays like a 4.5. Part of it is he’s always a step ahead.” Ran slow at the combine and even slower in South Bend. “That guy played a lot faster than that,” said a second scout. “The two interceptions I saw in the Florida State game were incredible. The range he had on the back end. He’s physical.” Third-year junior, two-year starter. “He runs 4.7,” said another scout. “What do you do? He’s 4.7. He’s a good ballhawk. Good tough kid. But he’s no linebacker. If there’s a bust it might be him.” Finished with 139 tackles (7 1/2 for loss), eight picks, no sacks and no forced fumbles. “It doesn’t matter what he runs — he’s got game speed,” a third scout said. “He made an interception against Florida State that three people in America can make. The ability to swoop down and cover somebody or run down the seam or range to the middle of the field, he’s got all that. People said Sean Taylor. He’s not as physically explosive as Sean Taylor but I thought he was a better tackler. He’s not as physical as Kam Chancellor but he’s a better athlete. This guy’s a better athlete than Steve Atwater. Those were all intimidating forces. He’s not that.” Wonderlic of 28. His arm length (33) tied for the best at the position. “I don’t think he can play in the middle of the field,” a fourth scout said. “I question his ability to tackle from there. He’s more of that Buffalo nickel-dime linebacker in the box … When you talk to this kid you love him. He has what you want from a mental standpoint. He’s the type of kid you would want to build a defense around because he’s got great character. There’s not much bust in him. His floor is very high but I don’t know how high his ceiling’s going to be.” From Atlanta.