2024-25 Football Roster

Xavier Watts 2023-24 Football Roster

S

Height 6-0

Weight 202

Class Senior/Junior

Hometown Omaha, NE

High School Harry A. Burke

Bio / Statistics

HONORS AND AWARDS

2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
2024 Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist
2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist
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)

Watts is one of just two FBS safeties to rank in the Top Three among all FBS safeties in interceptions and passes defended, and no FBS safety has higher marks in both categories than Watts. His 1.2 passes defended per game rank second among all safeties and 13th nationally, while his four interceptions rank third among safeties and seventh among all FBS players.
Watts has totaled 11 interceptions on his career. He is tied for the most career interceptions by an Irish player since 1996. He is the 19th Notre Dame player to intercept 10 or more passes in a career and is tied for ninth (with four other players) on the all-time list for career interceptions in program history.
Watts is responsible for five of Notre Dame’s 25 turnovers gained this season (four interceptions, one fumble recovery).
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
FLORIDA STATE (11/09): Started for the Irish… collected four tackles – three solo, one assisted… one tackle for loss
VIRGINIA (11/16): Started on defense for the Irish… posted his 11th-career interception – his fourth of the season – recovered a fumble, notched a pass breakup… added three tackles on the day

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