Xavier Watts Earns First-Team FWAA All-America Honors
Notre Dame senior safety Xavier Watts has earned yet another first-team All-America honors, this time earning a spot on the Football Writers Association of America team.
Watts has now earned first-team honors from FWAA, Walter Camp, The Athletic, CBS Sports and USA TODAY Sports. The FWAA and Walter Camp teams are two of the five that factor into consensus and unanimous All-American honors. To be a unanimous All-American a player needs to earn first-team honors from all five, while consensus requires just three.
The Irish safety also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes annually to the nation's best defensive football player.
Watts had a breakout season for Notre Dame and was a key figure on one of the nation's best defenses. Notre Dame finished the in the Top 10 nationally in scoring defense, total defense and yards allowed per play. Notre Dame also ranked 4th nationally in pass defense, second in lowest completion percentage allowed, and it led the nation in passer rating. The Irish also ranked 14th in turnovers gained, and Watts was a key reason for all of that.
Watts led the nation in turnovers, picking off seven passes this season and recovering a fumble that he returned for a touchdown. All seven of his interceptions led to scores by the Irish offense, with five going for touchdowns and two ending with field goals.
The Nebraska native had his national breakout performance against USC when he intercepted reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams twice, setting up touchdowns on both plays. He ended the scoring in that game with a touchdown of his own as he returned a fumble for a touchdown in the 48-20 win.
Watts picked off two more passes a week later in the 58-7 win over Pittsburgh. His final interception came against Clemson, and he returned that pick to the 2-yard line to set up an Irish score.
Watts was fourth on the Irish defense with 47 tackles this season, and he added 2.5 tackles for loss and four pass breakups.
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