Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts named back-to-back Consensus All-American
For the 111th time in college football history, more than any other program in the sport, Notre Dame has a Consensus All-American selection. Graduate senior safety Xavier Watts earned the honor Thursday by securing First Team All-American status from the Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sporting News and the AFCA.
Had Watts been named a First Team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, he’d have taken home an Unanimous All-American designation for the second consecutive season. He settled for multiple Consensus honors, though, a feat that’s now been accomplished by 17 players in Notre Dame history.
- Frank Carideo, back (1929, 1930)
- Marchy Schwartz, back (1930, 1931)
- Bob Dove, end (1941, 1942)
- George Connor, tackle (1946, 1947)
- John Lujack, back (1946, 1947)
- Bill Fischer, guard (1947, 1948)
- Leon Hart, end (1948, 1949)
- Emil Sitko, back (1948, 1949)
- John Lattner, back (1952, 1953)
- Ross Browner, defensive end (1976, 1977)
- Ken MacAfee, tight end (1976, 1977)
- Bob Crable, linebacker (1980, 1981)
- Michael Stonebreaker, linebacker (1988, 1990)
- Todd Lyght, defensive back (1989, 1990)
- Chris Zorich, defensive line (1989, 1990)
- Aaron Taylor, offensive line (1992, 1993)
- Xavier Watts, safety (2023, 2024)
What a five-year run it’s been in South Bend for Watts. At multiple points in his career, he didn’t know what direction he’d be taken. He was a wide receiver and a rover. He ultimately settled on safety, and he became one of the best in the country at that position.
One of the best in the country on defense, period.
Watts won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the best defensive player in college football last season. This season, he’s arguably been ever better. He’s Notre Dame’s top-rated player on defense per Pro Football Focus, and he is widely viewed as a surefire NFL Draft prospect.
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That was the main reason Watts returned to South Bend in 2024; to turn himself into a can’t-miss, next-level talent. Mission accomplished. He ranks first on the Notre Dame roster with 5 interceptions, bringing his two-year total to 12, first in passes defended with 9 and fourth in total tackles with 49.
Above all else, though, Watts has a chance to finish his college career with a national championship. No. 7 seed Notre Dame needs to win four more games, beginning with No. 10 seed Indiana in South Bend on Friday night. Watts said earlier this week there is nowhere else he’d rather be than Notre Dame Stadium for that massive matchup.
He’s glad he returned to school for a fifth season.
“I would definitely have been wherever I am right now, disappointed in my decision if I wasn’t part of this team right now,” he said. “So, like I said, I’m just really glad I made the right decision and it’s all working out right now.”
