Notre Dame S Xavier Watts named finalist for Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Notre Dame senior safety Xavier Watts could win one of college football’s most prestigious awards for his breakout 2023 season. Watts was named one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given to the top defensive player in college football.
The other four finalists are Iowa junior cornerback Cooper DeJean, Georgia sophomore safety Malaki Starks, Iowa senior defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and NC State graduate linebacker Payton Wilson. The Nagurski Trophy winner is selected by the Football Writers Association of America and presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Watts burst onto the national scene with his performance against USC, in which he picked off Trojans quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams twice. He also forced a fumble and recovered another one, which he returned for a touchdown.
The former wide receiver, who was taking reps on offense as recently as fall camp of 2020, leads the nation with 7 interceptions 10 games into the season. No other player had more than 5, with Boston College’s Elijah Jones, Maryland’s Tarheeb Still, Wisconsin’s Ricardo Hallman, Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston, Iowa State’s Jeremiah Cooper, Buffalo’s Devin Grant and Liberty’s Brylan Green currently tied for second.
So far, Watts is also tied for sixth on Notre Dame’s all-time single-season interception leaderboard. Linebacker Manti Te’o had 7 in 2012, as did four other safeties: Harrison Smith in 2010, Shane Walton in 2002, Dave Duerson in 1982 and Clarence Ellis in 1970.
Watts is fourth on the Irish with 42 tackles, and he’s tied for second with 4 passes defended. Not only has he developed the instincts and positional awareness to be a bona fide ballhawk on the back end of Notre Dame’s defense, but he has elite closing speed that makes him as dangerous to throw or run at as anyone in the country.
The last Notre Dame player to win the Nagurski Trophy was Te’o with his 7-interception season in 2012, in which he finished second in Heisman Trophy voting and led Notre Dame to the national championship game. Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr. won the award in the past two seasons.
Regarding the other finalists, DeJean is nearly untouchable in coverage and serves as the lynchpin Iowa’s defense, which is arguably the best in the nation. Unfortunately, DeJean reportedly suffered an injury in practice and might miss the rest of the season.
Wilson has video game numbers this season with 112 total tackles, 6 passes defended, 4 sacks and 2 interceptions. Starks is third among safeties with an 88.7 Pro Football Focus defense grade. Newton has 5.5 sacks and 38 quarterback pressures, the latter of which leads all interior defensive linemen.
The Nagurski Trophy winner will be announced after the season.
