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Former Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts was selected in this year's NFL Draft.
Jeff Douglas, Inside ND Sports
Xavier Watts left a legacy at Notre Dame for persevering through position switches and allowing himself to be developed into a two-time All-American safety by the end of his five seasons with the Irish.
Watts will continue to test his growth at the NFL level after being selected Friday in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Atlanta Falcons picked Watts at No. 96 overall.
Watts became the first Notre Dame safety to be drafted since Kyle Hamilton in 2022. When Hamilton was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 14 overall pick in that year’s draft, Watts had to yet to make his first career start at Notre Dame.
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That first start came later that year when Watts started the final four games of the season in his first full season as a safety. Watts, who was recruited to Notre Dame as a wide receiver out of Omaha (Neb.) Burke, made the switch to playing defense as a sophomore in 2021 but only settled into safety after being asked to try the rover linebacker role first. He started to show potential as a defender with increased playing time in November 2021.
Watts made his first career start a year later when Brandon Joseph missed time with an ankle injury. He continued to impress with his limited opportunities and appeared to set himself up for a full-time starting role as a senior in 2023. But it was hard to imagine just how good Watts would become in his next two seasons with the Irish.
Watts ended the 2023 season as a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the best defender in college football. He finished in a tie for the most interceptions in the country with seven, two of which came against USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who won the Heisman Trophy the previous season and went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Watts added 52 tackles, three tackles for loss, four pass breakups and one forced fumble to his season stat line.
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Watts may have played even better as a graduate senior in 2024 despite not receiving the same level of recognition. Watts, who served as one of Notre Dame’s captains, received consensus All-America status but didn’t advance past the semifinal round for several individual awards. He still finished the 16-game season with 82 tackles, six interceptions, 10 pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Watts will work to prove he can continue to be a playmaker at the NFL level after starting the last 33 games of his Notre Dame career. The former three-star recruit who Rivals ranked as the No. 90 wide receiver in the 2020 recruiting class was the sixth safety selected in the 2025 draft class.
Watts was the second Notre Dame pick in this year’s draft behind cornerback Benjamin Morrison. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Morrison in the second round with the No. 53 overall pick earlier Friday.
Simply eXcellent
Every @xavierwatts6 interception
The best of Xavier Watts https://t.co/tF0E1XXW33#GoIrishpic.twitter.com/4R7fiDa0OE
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 1, 2025
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