Through the regular season, leads all FBS players in interceptions (7).
Watts is one of three players in FBS with multiple games this season recording two or more interceptions (2 vs. Pitt, 2 vs. USC)
Watts’ seven interceptions this season have led to 33 total Notre Dame points on the subsequent drives. In addition to leading all FBS players in total interceptions, he also ties for the lead in interceptions per game (0.6).
Watts has totaled 47 tackles this season, leading all Notre Dame defensive backs and ranking fifth on the team.
Watts’ seven interceptions account for nearly half of Notre Dame’s 15 total interceptions, a team figure that ranks eighth among all FBS teams.
Watts and the Notre Dame defense continue to impress this season; the Irish finish the regular season leading FBS in team passing efficiency defense (94.91), ranking second in red zone defense (0.706), third in passing yards allowed (154.2), sixth in defensive touchdowns (4), eighth in total defense (282.9), ninth in scoring defense (16.6) and 13th in first downs defense (197).
Off his consecutive two-interception games vs. Pitt and USC, Watts was the first Notre Dame defender to pick off two passes in back-to-back games since at least 1996. He is one of three FBS players to achieve two multi-INT games this season, and the only to do so in consecutive games.
Named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week and the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week for his performance vs. USC.
Named the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance vs. Pitt.
IN 2023:
NAVY (8/26): Recorded four tackles, two solo in his season debut in Dublin, Ireland as a starting safety
TENNESSEE STATE (9/2): Finished with a pair of solo tackles … Added one pass breakup
at NORTH CAROLINA STATE (9/9): Recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter to set up an Irish score … Finished with three tackles, one solo
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (9/16): Added five tackles, two solo in the win … broke up one pass
OHIO STATE (9/23): Recorded five tackles, four solo
at DUKE (9/30): Intercepted his second pass of the season and returned it 12 yards late in the first quarter to set up a field goal … Recorded eight tackles, two solo … Added a half tackle for loss
at LOUISVILLE (10/7): Finished with two tackles, one solo … Added a tackle for a one-yard loss
at CLEMSON (11/4): Recorded his seventh interception of the season, fifth in the past three games on Clemson’s opening drive of the second half … The 33-yard interception return set up a touchdown one a one-yard drive … Finished with three tackles, three solo.
WAKE FOREST (11/18): Notched two tackles and recovered a blocked Wake Forest field goal attempt, returning it 19 yards.
at STANFORD (11/25): Posted three tackles in the 56-23 win
GAME SPOTLIGHT: 10/14 VS. USC
Xavier Watts was in a class all his own in the dominant 48-20 win over No. 10 USC, leading the nation as the only FBS player that weekend with both a fumble return for a touchdown and two interceptions. Watts made seven tackles on the night, tacking on a forced fumble and a pass breakup, and tallying 61 return yards on interception returns and 15 yards on his fumble return for a TD.
Watts is the only player ever to individually intercept USC’s Caleb Williams twice in one game in Williams’ entire college career.
Just two other FBS players snagged two interceptions on the weekend, and Watts’ 61 return yards on his picks outpaced both (Davon Ferguson of Bowling Green, two picks for 0 return yards; Kobe Savage of Kansas State, two picks for 7 return yards).
Emerging as one of the most explosive defensive backs in the FBS, Watts played a key role on three of Notre Dame’s six touchdowns on Saturday. Both of Watts’ interceptions resulted in Notre Dame touchdowns in the subsequent three plays or less. Watts’ first interception came on USC’s game-opening drive, setting the tone for the performance to follow. His 38-yard return to the USC 12 set the stage for a Notre Dame touchdown to start off the scoring, while his next pick came in the second quarter, which he returned 23 yards to the USC 2. On the play immediately following, Notre Dame ran the ball for a touchdown.
Then, in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame forced a USC fumble, and Watts scooped it up, returning it 15 yards for another Irish touchdown, putting Notre Dame up 48-20. On USC’s drive immediately following, Watts continued to dominate, forcing a fumble and giving the Irish possession to close out the game.
Watts and the Irish defense held USC to just 20 points Saturday, a team that led the nation in scoring offense entering the game with 51.8 PPG. USC also ranked third in the nation in passing offense (355.2) entering the game, but Notre Dame held the Trojans to only 199 passing yards.
Notre Dame’s 48 points vs. No. 10 USC were its fourth-most against an AP Top-10 opponent since at least 1936.
GAME SPOTLIGHT: 10/28 VS. PITT
Watts again put on a show in the secondary for Notre Dame, snagging two interceptions (31 return yards) and adding three tackles, one for loss, in the dominant 58-7 win over Pitt.
Pitt entered the game averaging 320.9 yards of total offense per game, while Notre Dame held the Panthers to just 255 yards. Additionally, leading up to Saturday’s game, Pitt had only thrown five interceptions this season, while the Irish snagged four total interceptions from Pitt, as Irish teammates Christian Gray and Jaden Mickey added one each to Watts’ two.
