SIGNED: DT Kurt Hinish
Pittsburgh Central Catholic defensive tackle Kurt Hinish submitted his National Letter of Intent to Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Rivals rates the 6-3, 283-pounder as a three-star recruit, the No. 11 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 38 defensive tackle in the country.
Measurables
• Ran a 5.17 40-yard dash, recorded a time of 4.7 seconds in the pro shuttle drill and posted a 27.9-inch vertical jump at Nike Football The Opening Regional on May 7, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.
Statistics
• As a senior, recorded 27 tackles and three sacks. Also played offensive line and contributed to a Central Catholic offense that totaled 4,034 rushing yards, 6,074 total yards and 48.1 points per game.
• Posted 32 total tackles as a junior.
Honors
• Named Class 6A all-state by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers following his senior campaign.
• Selected to the PAFootballNews.com all-classification all-state team and Class 6A all-state squad.
• Picked to USA Today’s All-USA Pennsylvania first team.
• Named to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, a listing of the top players in the Western Pennsylvania area, and to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25, which recognizes the area’s best players.
All-Star Games And Camps
• Participated in Nike Football The Opening Regional on May 7, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.
Recruitment
• Committed to Notre Dame on March 20, 2016, following a Junior Day visit.
• Picked the Irish over offers from Penn State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and others.
• Officially visited Notre Dame on the weekend of Jan. 21.
• Did not officially visit any other schools.
Notable
• Born April 27, 1999.
• Central Catholic appeared in back-to-back state championship games, winning in the 4A title in 2015 and finishing runner-up in 6A in 2016.
2017 Projection
• Although a redshirt is likely, Hinish has the quickness and advanced technique needed to earn immediate playing time if the opportunity arises.
BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: “Arguably no signee will benefit more from the hiring of defensive coordinator Mike Elko than Kurt Hinish. The 283-pound defensive tackle is a high-motor interior player that uses his quickness and instincts to make plays. He shows a good burst off the line, he changes direction well, and he shows off good closing speed once he gets into the backfield.
“What Hinish lacks is the size and strength to eat up blocks, but he won’t be asked to do that in Elko’s defense. As a senior, he displayed much improved hand play, which allowed him to dominate on a more consistent basis.”
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