Notre Dame Commit Xavier Watts Has Big Goals For 2019

Offseason training for the Burke High School football team wrapped up last week and the powerhouse program in Omaha, Nebraska started actual practice on Monday.

Burke’s star senior, Xavier Watts‍, is excited entering his final season before heading off to Notre Dame, where he committed as a receiver last month.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Watts told Irish Sports Daily. “I just want to cherish it because it’s my last year. I just want to have fun every day and I don’t want it to go by too fast.”

After losing in the state semifinals in 2017, Burke captured the state championship last season and will look to do it again this year.

“We’re pretty good again,” said Watts. “We should be able to go back-to-back if everyone just buys in and steps up. Overall, we’re still a pretty good time. We lost some pieces, but we’re still pretty good.”

He has the highest of goals for himself and his squad.

“I want to win state and Gatorade Player of the Year,” he said.

Watts, who plays receiver and defensive back for Burke, believes he put in the work in the offseason to put both in range.

“I think I’ve gotten faster and I’ve gotten bigger physically,” he said. “I’ll be able to use my strength on the perimeter blocking to take people down and make more tackles on defense. With my routes, I’ve been working on getting more crisp, getting down and bursting out of my routes.”

He knows his profile is only higher this season, especially after the attention his recruitment received as the Irish battled in-state Nebraska for his pledge.

“Everyone is going to come at my pretty hard,” Watts acknowledged. “I don’t really expect to see a lot of one-on-one matchups this year. I expect to see double-teams.

“I’m pretty sure people won’t try to throw the ball my way. I will find a way to get the ball on defense somehow.”

Watts said the “vibe” in South Bend is what led to his decision to choose Notre Dame over all of his other options.

“Just the feeling I had from everyone,” he said. “Everyone has the same goal and I could really relate to the people. Of course, there’s the football aspect. They’re really good at football and I think I have an opportunity to play.”

Watts is planning to return to campus for the Irish’s October home date against USC along with several other current commits.

“I think it’ll be pretty fun because I’ll be around more of the players again, but this time I’ll be committed, so it’ll just be a better experience,” he said.

But first up, Watts and his teammates will kick off the season with their season-opener against Lincoln Southeast on Aug. 29th.