Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts has been named a Consensus All-American for the 2024 football season, marking his second consecutive year receiving this prestigious honor. This achievement places him among an elite group of only 17 Notre Dame players to become two-time consensus honorees, and he is the first to do so since 1993.
Xavier Watts
Watts’s exceptional performance throughout the season earned him First-Team All-American selections from multiple organizations, including the Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sporting News, and the AFCA. Notably, he was named a First-Team All-American by The Athletic, USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus, and Bleacher Report. However, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) designated him as a Second-Team All-American, preventing him from achieving unanimous All-American status for the second year in a row.
Throughout the 2024 season, Watts demonstrated remarkable defensive skills, recording 49 tackles, five interceptions, and nine pass breakups. His five interceptions tied him for third nationally, and his 14 passes defended placed him tied for 11th in the country. A standout moment came during the game against USC, where Watts intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, setting a new Notre Dame record for the longest interception return.
Under Watts’s leadership, Notre Dame’s defense has been formidable, leading the nation in several categories, including team passing efficiency defense and turnovers gained. The Irish defense ranks first in team passing efficiency defense (94.10), first in turnovers gained (28), and third in scoring defense (13.6 points per game). Watts’s contributions have been instrumental in these achievements, solidifying his reputation as a defensive powerhouse.
Reflecting on his journey, Watts’s transition from wide receiver to safety has been pivotal in his development into one of college football’s premier defensive players. His background as a receiver has endowed him with exceptional ball skills and an acute understanding of offensive strategies, enhancing his effectiveness in pass defense.
As Watts prepares for the upcoming College Football Playoff, where Notre Dame is set to face Indiana, his focus remains on contributing to his team’s success. His consistent performance and leadership have not only garnered individual accolades but have also been vital to the Fighting Irish’s accomplishments this season.
In summary, Xavier Watts’s back-to-back Consensus All-American honors underscore his exceptional talent and dedication. His contributions have been integral to Notre Dame’s defensive prowess, and his legacy is poised to inspire future generations of players.
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