There’s very little doubt that Xavier Watts is one of the best defenders to ever come through the Notre Dame football program. That’s saying quite a lot when you consider how storied the Fighting Irish program is over the years.
As good as Watts has been the last year and a half (and he’s been very good), he could be setting a new standard when the smoke clears on the 2024 campaign. He’s been in line for plenty of awards the last two seasons, but Watts could win an award that no other member of the Irish has ever won.
Watts was named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award. As storied as the Notre Dame football program has been, no Irish player has ever won this trophy, awarded to the best defensive back in the country every year since 1986.
Notre Dame football defender could be a first
Xavier Watts has a legit shot at bringing home the trophy, as he currently has 3 interceptions, six passes broken up, and 31 tackles on the season. While his interception numbers aren’t quite what they were last year, he tends to get turnovers in bunches, and that means he has plenty of time to match his total from 2023.
Even if he doesn’t match his 7 interceptions, the fact that he’s been such a presence in the defensive backfield makes him a legit threat for the Jim Thorpe award. After having won the the Bronko Nagurski Award last fall, it sure seems that the Notre Dame football defender is putting quite the capper on his career.