This week, Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts became a back-to-back consensus first-team All-American. 

To earn this honor, a player must be recognized as a first-team All-American by at least half of the following five organizations: Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America and Sporting News. 

Four of the five entities named Watts to the first team, while the FWAA selected him for the second team.

The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Pro Football Focus and Bleacher Report also named him a first-team All-American.

He’s Notre Dame’s 111th consensus All-American selection. According to Notre Dame, only 17 Fighting Irish players have garnered the distinction twice, with Watts becoming the first to do so since 1993:

• Frank Carideo, back (1929, 1930)

• Marchy Schwartz, back (1930, 1931)

• Bob Dove, end (1941, 1942)

• George Connor, tackle (1946, 1947)

• John Lujack, back (1946, 1947)

• Bill Fischer, guard (1947, 1948)

• Leon Hart, end (1948, 1949)

• Emil Sitko, back (1948, 1949)

• John Lattner, back (1952, 1953)

• Ross Browner, defensive end (1976, 1977)

• Ken MacAfee, tight end (1976, 1977)

• Bob Crable, linebacker (1980, 1981)

• Michael Stonebreaker, linebacker (1988, 1990)

• Todd Lyght, defensive back (1989, 1990)

• Chris Zorich, defensive line (1989, 1990)

• Aaron Taylor, offensive line (1992, 1993)

Last fall, Watts also won the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Award, which goes to college football’s best defensive player. He wasn’t a finalist for the honor this fall, but his performance on the field was likely even better in 2024. 

He registered 49 tackles (1.0 for a loss), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery and he’s tied for third nationally with five interceptions. That includes a record-tying 100-yard pick-six against USC to seal a Fighting Irish victory and berth in the College Football Playoffs.

In coverage, he’s limiting opposing quarterbacks to a team-best 30.4 NFL passer rating. He’s defended 14 passes this fall, which ranks first among Football Bowl Subdivision safeties.

In 2024, Watts is one of just two repeat consensus All-Americans, along with Colorado’s “all-purpose,” two-way player Travis Hunter. The Buffalos’ star lined up at cornerback and receiver this fall, which propelled him to win the Heisman Trophy and become the AP’s Player of the Year.

Watts began his Fighting Irish career as a receiver before moving to the defensive side of the ball. Due to wideout depth issues, he even practiced both positions at the start of the 2022 season. 

He believes he could still play both ways for the Fighting Irish if offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock asked him to do so.

“I 100% could do that,” Watts said on an episode of the “Irish Scoop” podcast. “I’m really confident that I could do that.”