Central Catholic Grad Representing WPIAL in National Championship

When Notre Dame and Ohio State take the field Monday evening in the College Football Playoff National Championship, one player will represent the entire WPIAL and Pittsburgh region on the biggest stage.

Donovan Hinish — a 6-foot-2, 278-pound defensive lineman — is a 2022 Central Catholic graduate and as a redshirt sophomore for the Fighting Irish this season, he has stepped into a larger role.

Receiving additional snaps due to injuries across the board for Notre Dame, Hinish has made the most of the opportunity. In 15 games, Hinish has recorded 35 total tackles (19 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Hinish has made an impact for the Fighting Irish throughout the season, but no play was more important than when he put the finishing touches on the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans against Georgia to advance to the CFP semifinals.

With a minute left and Georgia looking to engineer some late-game magic down by two scores, Hinish put an end to any last-ditch belief with a seven-yard sack of Gunner Stockton on fourth down.

Central Catholic grad Donovan Hinish closes out the Sugar Bowl with this sack. #WPIAL pic.twitter.com/gGHqWHZMfS

— Brad Everett (@BREAL412) January 3, 2025

Last season, Hinish saw action in just nine games and totaled 10 tackles, along with a tackle for loss and sack.

Prior to his time at Notre Dame, Hinish starred on the defensive line at Central Catholic. During his senior campaign, Hinish posted 47 tackles (35 solo), 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks. Hinish won two WPIAL Class 6A titles with the Vikings in 2019 and 2020.

Central Catholic senior defensive tackle Donovan Hinish lines up against North Allegheny on Sept. 24 at Newman Stadium / Photo from Eric Davies

Hinish looks to craft his own legacy when Notre Dame takes on the Buckeyes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. after his brother, Kurt, made Hinish a household name amongst Fighting Irish fans.

Kurt set the record for most games played in a Notre Dame uniform with 61 as he started in 35 games. He compiled 81 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks across five seasons.

The older brother of the Whitehall duo now plays for the Houston Texans after he was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft. Hinish tallied one tackle in the season-ending loss to Kansas City in the AFC Divisional Round.