5th-Year Notre Dame Safety Xavier Watts Has No Regrets
Xavier Watts certainly isn’t having any second thoughts about his decision to bypass the NFL last year for a fifth season at Notre Dame.
“I'm really glad I came back,” the All-American safety says. “There was a lot of back and forth with it, but at the end of the day, I’m really pleased with my decision.
“I feel like I've improved myself and that was one of the main things; just improve as a player and obviously just team goals as well. We were reaching new heights last year, playing in the Sun Bowl. And now we're in the playoffs, so I’m pleased with the decision.”
Had he left, Watts believes he’d be regretting it.
“I would definitely have been wherever I am right now, disappointed in my decision if I wasn't part of this team right now,” he says.
Of course, without Watts, maybe the Irish aren’t where they are as a team right now.
“Being a captain, being the leader that he's been for our defense, there is no value, no money that I can put on that,” Irish head coach Marcus Freeman says of Watts. “He has been amazing in terms of the value he's brought to this program, to this team.
“The value he's brought to this team for us to achieve the results that we have has been tremendous.”
And now Watts, Freeman and the rest of the Irish have the opportunity they worked for, a home game against Indiana on Friday night in the First Round of the inaugural College Football Playoff.
Watts understands the Hoosiers’ offense, led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke, will present challenges.
“They're definitely a talented group of guys,” says Watts. “Their quarterback’s a good player. He’s got a good arm. He makes good decisions. He takes care of the ball, and then they have a good pass offense. They have some talented receivers. They’ve got a taller guy, and they take some shots with him. And then they have slot guys who are quick and twitchy, so it’ll be a good challenge.”
After USC’s offense lit up the Irish for 557 yards, including 360 passing yards and three passing touchdowns by quarterback Jayden Maiava, in the regular season finale, Watts expects the Hoosiers to try replicating that performance.
“We know teams are going to try to test us now. I mean, we gave up some big plays, but we're going to be ready for them,” says Watts. “Practicing this whole — whatever — two weeks, three weeks, having time off to just mentally prepare. And now this week, physically preparing for practice. If they’re going to take some shots, we’ll be ready.
“It was a good test to put us through, especially at the end of the season and coming into the playoffs, where stakes are going to be high. Teams are going to try it, because it’s win or go home. So, it's a good test and good practice, so we’ll be ready for it.”
Want the latest scoop on the Fighting Irish? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Half-Zip Hoodie
