Xavier Watts wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy for nation's best defensive player

Notre Dame football may not have achieved the team hardware they were hoping for in 2023. However, the efforts of at least one member of the Irish aren't going unrecognized. On Monday night, senior safety Xavier Watts was named the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The award goes to college football's top defensive player each year and is decided by the Football Writers Association of America. Watts beat out Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, Georgia safety Malaki Starks and NC State linebacker Payton Wilson for the honors.

Watts' journey to the award certainly wasn't a linear one. The Omaha, Nebraska, native arrived at Notre Dame as a three-star wide receiver recruit in 2020. He quickly transitioned to safety and has missed just two games for the Irish over the last three seasons. However, he didn't become a regular starter until the tail end of the 2022 season. Although he blew away his career high in tackles with 39 last year, Watts didn't enter 2023 with superstar status.

It didn't take long for that to change, though. Watts recorded his first interception of the season in the team's third game of the season against NC State. He would go on to pick off 7 passes on the season, leading the nation in picks. Watts was the first Irish player to notch 7 interceptions in a year since Manti Te'o in 2012. Entering the year, Watts had never recorded an interception in his collegiate career.

Watts set career-highs in just about every category, from tackles (47) to tackles for loss (2.5) to passes defended (11). He also forced his first collegiate fumble. Watts peaked during Notre Dame's 48-20 win over USC, intercepting reigning Heisman Trophy Winner Caleb Williams twice. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown. He received the Bronko Nagurski National Player of the Week award for that effort, then earned it again in the next Irish game when he had another two-interception effort, this time against Pitt.

“Just something you never really imagine,” Watts said after the game. “I was just out there playing, just trying to have fun, do my job, and things ended up happening. Just crazy.”

That quote is a fitting summary of not just that performance, but Watts' entire season. His first year as a full-time starter for the Irish proved to be a special one.