Kyonte Hamilton (born November 7, 2002) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Houston Texans.
Hamilton was born on November 7, 2002, and grew up in District Heights, Maryland, near Washington, D.C..[1] At age five, his father introduced him to football and wrestling.[1] He attended Georgetown Preparatory School where he excelled in both sports.[2] In football, he played as a quarterback and linebacker.[1] In wrestling, he won two national championships, two NHSCA championships and two IAC championships.[3][4] He recruited in both wrestling and football: he was ranked the second-best wrestling recruit nationally and a three-star football prospect, and committed to play both sports for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.[1][3]
Hamilton played football for Rutgers from 2021 to 2024, appearing in all 51 games during that time, 31 as a starter.[1] He was mainly used as a defensive tackle, but also saw playing time at defensive end due to injuries to other players.[5] As a freshman in 2021, he posted 22 tackles and two tackles-for-loss (TFLs).[2] He compiled a record of 3–1 as a freshman wrestler, competing in the heavyweight class, but dropped the sport prior to his sophomore year to focus on football.[6][7] He won a starting role in 2022 and recorded 24 tackles, three TFLs and a sack.[2] The following season, he posted 28 tackles and one sack.[8] As a senior in 2024, Hamilton tied for the team lead with four sacks and recorded 36 tackles, leading the defensive line, along with five TFLs, being named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference.[2] He also placed second on the team with 27 quarterback pressures.[1] He concluded his collegiate career having recorded 110 tackles, 11 TFLs, and six sacks.[9]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1.91 m) |
305 lb (138 kg) |
32+1⁄8 in (0.82 m) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) |
5.03 s | 1.70 s | 2.87 s | 4.58 s | 7.58 s | 29.0 in (0.74 m) |
9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) |
29 reps | |
| All values from Pro Day[10] | ||||||||||||
Hamilton was not invited to the NFL Combine, although he did participate in Rutgers's pro day on March 22, 2025.[11]
Hamilton was selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2025 NFL draft.[2] He was placed on injured reserve on August 1, 2025.[12]
