Graduate safety Xavier Watts earned Defensive Player of the Week honors from the Reese’s Senior Bowl for his performance in Notre Dame’s 49-35 win at USC.
Watts led the team in tackles with 9, but his play of the game came on a victory-sealing 100-yard pick six in the final minutes. He also added a QB hurry.
Watts’ return was the longest interception return in Notre Dame history; just five FBS players have achieved the feat this season, and Watts is the first to do so since September.
On the day, Watts posted a third-down stop and two fourth-down stops. Notre Dame ranks seventh in the nation in both third and fourth down defense. Both of his fourth-down stops led to Irish points. His first fourth-down stop led to an Irish touchdown drive to put Notre Dame up 35-21 in the third quarter, and his second fourth-down stop came on his interception, which thwarted any USC hope of a comeback victory and gave the Irish a 49-35 lead.
Watts ranks third in the nation in total interceptions (5), fifth in the nation in interceptions per game (0.4) and 12th in the country in passes defended (1.2 per game).
He is tied for the lead among all FBS safeties in total interceptions and passes defended per game, and tied for second among all FBS safeties in interceptions per game.
Notre Dame leads the nation in turnovers with 28. Watts is responsible for six of those turnovers (five interceptions, one fumble recovery). Watts now has 12-career interceptions, the most by a Notre Dame player since 1996.
Notre Dame’s defense ranks near the top in many statistical categories, including first in team passing efficiency defense (94.10), first in turnovers gained (28), first in defensive touchdowns (6), third in scoring defense (13.6), fourth in passing yards allowed (157.9), fourth in interceptions (17), seventh in fumbles recovered (11), ninth in red zone defense (0.733), 10th in total defense (296.8) and 10th in first downs defense (197).