Senior safety Xavier Watts has been named to The Sporting News Midseason All-America team for his 2024 performance through the first half of the season. He was named to The Sporting News preseason All-America first team in August. 

The 2023 unanimous All-American has continued to lead the Irish defense in 2024, leading the secondary with 21 tackles, two interceptions (34 yards in return), five pass breakups and two quarterback hurries, in addition to a forced fumble. 

Watts has made impact plays throughout the season, totaling three third-down stops and four fourth-down stops through six games. Watts was a game changer in the 31-24 win over No. 15 Louisville. He posted his second interception of the season, with two pass breakups, a QB hurry and three tackles in several key situations, including the game-sealing pass breakup. 

Five of Watts’ disruptions came on third or fourth down (two on third, three on fourth). A second quarter PBU forced a Louisville punt, while Watts returned an interception later in the quarter for 34 yards, setting up a Notre Dame field goal. The interception marked the first pick thrown by Louisville QB Tyler Shough all season. Then, at the end of the half, Watts stymied a last-ditch effort by the Cardinals on fourth-and-1 with a tackle for no gain to end the half. 

In the third quarter, Watts notched his QB hurry on fourth-and-2, forcing an incomplete pass. On Louisville’s last offensive effort of the game, with the Irish ahead by a touchdown, Watts broke up a downfield pass attempt on fourth down to seal the game for the Irish, as the offense took a knee to run out the clock. 

Watts has also been named to midseason all-america teams by CBS Sports and The Athletic. In 2023, Watts won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, recognizing college football’s defensive player of the year, in addition to being named a unanimous All-American.