Xavier Watts Weighing Future After Winning Nagurski Award

The best defensive player in college football plays for Notre Dame. The Football Writers Association of America said so this week when it awarded Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which annually goes to the nation’s top defensive player. You're not alone if Watts winning the honor hasn’t sunk in just yet.

"It was kind of emotional,” Watts said on Tuesday after receiving the award Monday night. "I didn’t really show it, but it was a lot of excitement, and it was kind of shocking.”

Watts is just the second Notre Dame player to ever win the Nagurski Trophy. The only other Irish player to take the award was Manti Te’o, who won virtually every award he was eligible to receive (except the Heisman) for his play in 2012.

It's understandable if Watts is shocked by winning the award. He started his career at wide receiver, moved to defense to give the rover position a shot before moving to safety. During training camp in 2022 he cross-trained at receive again due to lack of numbers at that position before leaving that behind by the start of the to focus full-time at safety.

"I’m not really at the right size to be in that rover position,” Watts explained. "But obviously switching back and forth was a little bit difficult. I just kind of just stayed the course and continued to believe in myself and just kind of just trust the coaches and believe in the coaches that they know what they were doing moving me around.

"The journey I’ve been through, it’s just been difficult and just to get to that point where I’m being able to be recognized as one of the best or the best defender in the nation is just unreal,” Watts continued. "I mean, you look back, playing offense, defense and all that and then just how difficult it was playing safety and then my kind of steps at safety, kind of being a backup and not playing so much and then becoming the guy is just unreal. Just to have that trophy in my hand and have my name called is just amazing.”

As a draft-eligible player, Watts now has a decision to make on what he will do with his future, but he has already made the short-term decision on Notre Dame’s upcoming Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl appearance later this month.

"Yes, I will be playing in the bowl game,” Watts declared. "I just kind of want to play football regardless. I mean, even if I was maybe to decide to go to the draft, I think I’d probably lean towards playing the game anyway because regardless, it’s your last time around all the same guys that you’re going to be with. It’s the last time as the 2023 Fighting Irish.”

Watts leads the FBS with seven interceptions this season. Six of them came in a five-game stretch with two each against USC and Pittsburgh. He had a scoop and score fumble return to cap the scoring in Notre Dame’s 48-20 win over USC as well. His two interceptions against Williams represented just the second multi-interception game of the potential No. 1 overall draft pick next spring.

The performances Watts turned in this season have elevated his draft stock as well and now he must decide if he will declare for the draft or return to Notre Dame for another year.

"I’m still thinking about it,” Watts said. "Like you said, just waiting for that grade. I mean, I’ve had some conversations about where I’m at and, I don’t know, just still waiting on what I feel best is for me and just taking it day by day making my decision.”

In addition to the seven interceptions, Watts has a career-high 47 tackles this season. He had eight tackles in Notre Dame’s win over Duke, which was the game that saw him record his first career interception. His stock is high now, but Watts sees room to grow in his game as he weighs his future.

"I feel like personally I have a lot more to grow as a player,” Watts said. "I mean, I feel like this season was kind of just like a coming out party. I feel like I have a lot more to still show as a player.

“I feel like I still need to capitalize on more plays,” Watts continued. "I had seven picks this year. I still could have had 10 or 11 if I capitalized more on some more opportunities. Just different route recognition and stuff. So, just taking those next steps will benefit me even more.

Watts is in his fourth year at Notre Dame and already has his undergraduate degree. He is currently in a one-year master's program that ends in May. He says he will likely work in a non-degree seeking program next year if he does decide to return to Notre Dame for the 2024 season. The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is Jan. 15.