There are few people in the college football world who would ever claim that Notre Dame Football’s Xavier Watts isn’t one of the best defenders around. And yet it appears those few people are all among the people who decide the finalists for the Bronco Nagurski award this year.
Despite the fact that Watts won the award last year and despite the fact that he’s essentially put up the same kind of performance that got him the trophy in 2023, he won’t get a chance to win it in back-to-back seasons.
That’s despite the Notre Dame football star was in the running right up until this week. One has to wonder just what else he could have done as a safety for one of the best passing defesnes in the country than pick off four passes and shut down every passing offense that’s come his way.
Notre Dame football star defender gets massively snubbed
So who does the people who choose the Nagurski award believe are better suited for the trophy?
- Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron
- Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter
- Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham
- South Carolina edge Kyle Kennard
All talented enough players. All have definitely made an impact on their teams. But I find it hard to believe that any of the four are definitively better than Watts.
- Barron sits with 38 tackles, 8 passes defended and 4 interceptions.
- Carter has 45 tackles, 8 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
- Graham has 37 tackles, and 3.5 sacks.
- Kennard has just 25 tackles, but 10.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
Compare those numbers to Watts’ 38 tackles, 7 passes defended, 4 interceptions and a force fumble. It’s especially galling that he’s finished behind Graham who is definitely a trouble maker on defense, but whose numbers are simply not all that impressive.
Not that the Notre Dame football star needs the Bronco Nagurski award to underline just how dominant a safety he is, but this appears to be a weird snub of a past winner.