Xavier Watts Has A Tough Decision Looming
There’s a decision coming for Xavier Watts at the end of this season. The Notre Dame safety has been at Notre Dame for four years and his off the charts play at the back end of the Irish defense this season gives him the option to either declare for the NFL Draft or return for another year with the Fighting Irish.
Watts could have been honored on the field on Senior Day with 31 other Irish players but he chose not to.
"He’s not a senior,” Irish head coach Marcus Freeman said this week when asked if Watts not being recognized last week could be a sign of his pending return next season. "He was a guy I talked with — a lot of those guys that might be going into their fourth year — I had a conversation earlier in the year, ‘Do you want to be considered a senior this year?’ He was one of them that did not. I don’t know what he’s going to do in his future. I’m sure that’s what this question is pertaining to. I don’t know. He hasn’t made a decision (on the NFL Draft), but he didn’t want to be considered a senior.”
Watts is both technically a junior and technically a graduate. He graduated from Notre Dame in May, but he redshirted for the Irish in 2020. He saw primarily special teams action the next season and has played in all possible 24 games over the last two seasons.
He still has two remaining seasons of college eligibility since he was a freshman in 2020, when the NCAA granted the extra pandemic season waiver.
Either way, Watts has been one of the top defensive players in all the nation this season. His play has blossomed as his conviction in his ability has grown.
"I was confident in my abilities and somewhat of the defense last year, but just me getting more reps, practicing a lot more, knowing what I’m doing,” Watts said of his play. "Meeting more, learning more of the defense, and then obviously getting better with my skillset helped me get to where I am today. So, just being more confidence I would say is one of the biggest things that I’ve tried to adapt to from last year to this year.”
Watts was a solid contributor last season, but he is a bona fide ballhawk this year. He leads the nation with seven interceptions heading into Saturday’s regular season finale at Stanford. He has four pass breakups as well and is tied for fourth on the Irish defense with 44 tackles.
The interceptions have become his calling card.
"Sometimes you’re like, alright this specific route combination I’m gonna get an interception,” Watts said of his penchant for finding the ball. "But for the most part my interceptions are just kind of, I’ve just been in the right place. I’m just kind of just doing my job. Credit to my teammates, too, for they are ones in coverage and getting the pressure, too. So, they’re helping me get in position to make those plays, too. So, I’ve just kind of been in the right spot and just doing my job.
"When I’m in the post, I’m just back there having some depth,” Watts continued. "Just like I said just trying to do my job and then see the ball released and it’s just coming to me. So, I’m just kind of surprised in that it’s just coming to me but I don’t know. It’s crazy but it’s cool. I’m enjoying it so I’ve just got to keep it up.
Watts’ play this season has made him a finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Award. It’s an award that wasn’t on his radar earlier this season.
"I don’t know much about it,” Watts said of the award. "I know it’s a trophy.”
The Omaha, Neb native has gone from zero interceptions in his first three years to the seven he has this year. He picked off five in a three-game stretch against USC, Pittsburgh and Clemson after recording his first career pick against NC State and adding another against Duke in September.
"I didn’t really come in expecting coming into a game like ‘Alright I’m gonna get this interception or this is gonna fall into my lap like that’,” Watts explained. "But I mean, like I said it’s just kind of like the hard work paying off that I’ve put in and of course, like I said, my teammates...none of this would have happened without my teammates from them doing their jobs first and then me executing my job.”
Watts is the first Notre Dame player to ever record multiple interceptions in back to back games (two against both USC and Pittsburgh) and the first FBS player to do it since 2020. His seven interceptions have put the Fighting Irish offense in position to score 41 points.
"I’ve played safety for two years or it’s like my first full year starting,” Watts remarked. "So, just trying to take it to the next level. Just trying to become a veteran, I guess. So, like you said, just watching a lot more film, meeting with coaches a lot more, just studying more, studying more tendencies and just being more confident coming into the game. Like, ‘Alright, I’m that guy. I can make these type of plays. So, just go out there and show it and do it’.”
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr ranks Watts as his No. 7 draft eligible safety for next year’s NFL Draft. Watts has until Jan. 15, 2024 to either declare for next April’s draft or return to school for another season.
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