#26 Xavier Watts 2023-24 Football Roster

HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
• 2024 Associated Press Midseason All-America First Team
• 2024 The Sporting News Midseason All-America
• Watchlist for 2025 Senior Bowl
• 2024 Team Captain
• 2024 Associated Press Preseason All-American – First Team
• 2024 USA Today Preseason All-American – Second Team
• 2024 ESPN Preseason All-American – Second Team
• 2024 Sporting News Preseason All-American – First Team
• 2023 Bronko Nagurski Award Winner
• 2023 Unanimous All-American
• 2023 FWAA All-American – First Team
• 2023 Walter Came All-American – First Team
• 2023 Associated Press All-American – First Team
• 2023 AFCA All-American – First Team
• 2023 The Sporting News All-American – First Team
• 2023 CBS Sports All-American – First Team
• 2023 The Athletic All-American – First Team
• 2023 USA Today All-American – First Team
• 2023 Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Year
• 2023 Jim Thorpe National Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 30, 2023)
• 2023 Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 30, 2023)
• 2023 Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 16, 2023)
• 2023 Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 16, 2023)
• 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 16, 2023)
• 2023 Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Game – Pittsburgh
• 2023 Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Game – Southern Cal

AS A GRADUATE STUDENT (2024)

• at TEXAS A&M (8/31): Tallied three total tackles, two solo in the win… pulled in an interception – the eighth of his career – after starting at safety
• NORTHERN ILLINOIS (9/7): Made the start on defense… led the team with eight tackles… six solo and two assisted
• at PURDUE (9/15): Started for the Irish on defense… collected a tackle
• MIAMI UNIVERSITY (9/22): Started on defense… collected three solo tackles in the win… forced a fumble… had two pass breakups
• LOUISVILLE (9/28): Started and had a huge role on defense for the Irish in the victory… collected three tackles… pulled in an interception with a 34-yard return… had two pass breakups… registered a quarterback hurry on fourth down in the third quarter to force Louisville into a turnover on downs
• STANFORD (10/12): Started for the Irish on defense… collected three tackles – two assisted, one solo… registered a quarterback hurry on fourth down to help the defense into forcing Stanford into a turnover on downs
• at GEORGIA TECH (10/19): Started at safety… pulled in tenth career interception to become 19th player in program history with 10 career INTs… added a pass breakup… tallied four tackles – two solo and two assisted
• at NAVY (10/26): Started for the Irish… collected five tackles – one solo, four assisted… posted a pass breakup

AS A SENIOR (2023)

• 2023 Bronko Nagurski award winner, representing the best defensive player in the country … Unanimous All-American … Led the nation with seven interceptions, averaging an interception every other game … Played and started in all 13 games during the season … Finished with 52 tackles, 30 solo … Three tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks … Added four pass breakups … Forced a fumble and recovered a fumble, returning it for a touchdown … Two-time Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week performer, Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, Lott Impact Trophy Player of the Week award winner, Paycom Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week award winner …
• 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
• USC (10/14): Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week award winner … Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Player of the Week … LOTT Impact Trophy Player of the Week award finalist … Career-high two interceptions for a combined 61 return yards setting the Irish up deep in USC territory on both occasions … Returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown … Finished with seven total tackles, six solo … Forced a fumble … Added a pass breakup
• PITTSBURGH (10/28): Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Player of the Week … Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week … Finished with two interceptions and 31 return yards … Added three solo tackles … one tackle for 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): Finished with two tackles, one solo … Scooped up the blocked field goal in the second quarter and returned it 19 yards to set up a 37-yard field goal for the Irish
• at STANFORD (11/25): Recorded three tackles, one solo in the win
• OREGON STATE – TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL (12/29): Recorded five tackles in the victory … Chased down a scrambling OSU quarterback for a half sack and a one-yard loss

AS A JUNIOR (2022)

• Played in all 13 games at safety, starting the final four of the season. Finished the year with 39 tackles, 24 solo. Added tackles for loss in back-to-back games, including a nine-yard sack against Boston College. Added three pass breakups during the season.
• OHIO STATE (9/3): Season debut
• MARSHALL (9/10): Finished with two tackles, one solo
• CALIFORNIA (9/17): Added a solo tackle
• NORTH CAROLINA (9/24): Finished with two solo tackles and a pass breakup in the win
• BYU (10/8): Added an assisted tackle
• STANFORD (10/15): Season-high seven tackles, three solo, four assists.
• NAVY (11/12): Finished with a career-best eight tackles, seven solo and an assist. Added a tackle for a one-yard loss. Made his first career start at safety.
• BOSTON COLLEGE (11/19): Earned his first career sack in the victory. Finished with two tackles in the victory.
• USC (11/26): Finished tied with JD Bertrand for a team-best nine tackles (new career high). Added a pass breakup, snuffing out a reverse pass in the red zone.
• South Carolina – TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (12/30): Finished with three tackles, two solo and an assist in the 20th bowl game victory in program history. Added a pass breakup in the end zone in the first quarter.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2021)

• Played in 11 games for the Irish this season; Made 15 tackles, 11 solo, including a career-high five stops at Virginia
• VIRGINIA TECH (10/9): Made first career tackle and finished with three total, one solo, enroute to a 32-29 victory over the Hokies
• NAVY (11/6): Earned three solo tackles as part of Notre Dame’s 34-6 win over the Midshipmen
• VIRGINIA (11/13): Made a season-best five tackles, four solo in the 28-3 win in Charlottesville
• STANFORD (11/27): Made three stops, including two solo tackles, in road win
• OKLAHOMA STATE – Fiesta Bowl (1/1): Added one tackle in first postseason appearance

AS A FRESHMAN (2020)

• Appeared in two games for the Irish this season – South Florida (9/19) and Florida State (10/10)

PREP AND PERSONAL

• A three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN.com
• No. 459 overall player nationally, No. 75 wide receiver nationally and No. 2 player from Nebraska by 247Sports.com
• No. 75 overall player regionally, No. 67 wide receiver nationally and No. 2 player from Nebraska by ESPN.com (80 Scout Grade)
• No. 89 wide receiver nationally and No. 2 player from Nebraska by Rivals (5.7 Rivals rank)
• In 2019, caught 61 passes for 1,072 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed six times for 85 yards and a touchdown; On defense, totaled 68 tackles and three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns and helped Harry A. Burke HS to a state quarterfinal appearance
• Local Fox 42’s Thursday Night Lights Scholar Athlete of the Year
• Nebraska High School Scoreboard Show Heisman Award
• Played for coach Paul Limongi at Harry A. Burke