Marcus Freeman explains Xavier Watts not being announced on Senior Day
In week 12, Notre Dame football played its final home game of the season against Wake Forest. That game also serves as the Fighting Irish’s Senior Day game, where they celebrate the players leaving the program after the season. However, there was one name that was expected to be called and wasn’t: Xavier Watts.
The Notre Dame star safety did not get his name announced prior to their 45-7 win over Wake Forest. That led some to speculate on his status moving forward with the team. On Monday, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman revealed why Watts’s name was not called on the Fighting Irish Senior Day.
“He is not a senior,” said Freeman, chuckling.
“A lot of those guys that might be going into their 4th year, I had a conversation with them earlier. ‘Do you want to be considered a senior this year?’ And he was one of them that did not. So I don’t know what he’s going to do in the future. I’m sure that’s what this question pertains to. I don’t know, and he hasn’t made a decision. But he didn’t want to be considered a senior.”
Depending on which site you visit, Watt is listed as a senior. However, his classification is a bit muddled due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Whether or not Watts returns for another season remains to be seen. But given his impressive play for Notre Dame during his time in the program, should he decide to return, it would be difficult to imagine Freeman not welcoming the team’s leader in interceptions this year, with seven, with open arms.
Freeman praises Sam Hartman after he piloted Irish past Wake Forest
Notre Dame bashed Wake Forest, 45-7, on Senior Day for the Irish. And though he’s only been with the team for this season — his final in college football — Sam Hartman has delivered for Notre Dame this season since transferring in from Wake Forest.
Hartman shredded on Saturday, throwing for nearly 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. His performance Saturday and all year had head coach Marcus Freeman heaping on the praise postgame.
“Special, man. He’s special. We’re gonna miss him, but we’ve got him for two more, so we’re going to enjoy every one we have with him,” Freeman said.
Notre Dame finishes off the season on the road at Stanford in Week 12 before whatever bowl the Irish get picked for.
And if more performances like the one Hartman had on Saturday are coming, the Irish could be tacking on two more wins this year. Hartman finished 21-of-29 for 277 yards and four touchdowns in the win on Saturday.
While he had some license to unleash a bit of trash talk, Hartman demurred postgame and complimented his old outfit and praised the efforts of his current team.
“Hats off to Wake. I’ve been there, been in there shoes, obviously played there for so long. Coach Clawson, they came out and battled. Obviously, we executed on a lot of fronts and played a really complete game.”
The win also marked a milestone: It was the 500th all-time game at Notre Dame Stadium.