BREAKING | 2020 Four-Star WR Xavier Watts Commits To Notre Dame

Notre Dame has always been a school 2020 Burke (Neb.) receiver Xavier Watts‍ has held in high regard. The four-star prospect will now have a chance to play for the Fighting Irish as Watts has committed to Notre Dame. 

The combination of academics and athletics stood out to Watts as he chose the Irish over Michigan and Nebraska. 

“It’s pretty exciting because Notre Dame is a big-time school,” Watts told Irish Sports Daily. “Very good academics and it’s a very prestigious school.

“Everyone always talks about Notre Dame. It’s a good school, one of the top schools in the country. They’re always good at football, got a good education and good tradition. It’s just a great school all-around.”

Notre Dame’s academics were a major point of emphasis for Watts, but also his family, who has stressed the importance of education.

“Xavier understands that none of this sports stuff is going to fly unless the grades are good,” stated Watts’ father, Jeff. “It’s not just your parents telling you that you’re not going to play, it’s going to be the school.  He had a very clear understanding of that.  My wife is also in higher education.  She used to work at Creighton (University) in higher education.  She’s worked at Metro.  Now she’s at Clarkson at higher (education).  Academics are extremely important to her, and to both of us, It’s always been put into Xavier’s head, since day one, that these grades are important, and education is important.  

“Every time we knew of another situation where a kid wasn’t eligible to play sports because of their grades, or we turned on the TV and we saw somebody in college who wasn’t eligible to play because of their grades, we made sure we always pointed that out to him.  It doesn’t matter if he has all the talent in the world, it won’t matter if his grades aren’t together.  Xavier is just naturally gifted with his grades.  He really hasn’t come home with a lot of homework over the past four years.  Every time we go to parent/teacher conferences, they have nothing but excellent things to say about him.  That always makes us proud.”  

The decision wasn’t just about academics either. Notre Dame has always held Watts in high regard for his talent on the football field and with the ball in his hands. 

“They would use me all over the field and will find ways to get me the ball,” Watts said of the staff’s pitch. “They see me as very explosive and a playmaker.”

How talented is Watts? Burke head coach Paul Limongi believes Watts could have success on either side of the ball. 

“He reminds me of that Jabrill Peppers guy from Michigan, like (Charles) Woodson, those types of guys,” stated Limongi. 

Either way, Notre Dame has secured a commitment from one of the top pure athletes in the country. 

“As a football player, he’s competitive, he’s strong, he’s quick,” said Limongi. “He’s elusive and he’s a gamer. He makes big plays. He’s the best player in the state. He’s just as lethal on offense as he is defense. We’re glad to have him back for another year.”

Film Don’t Lie | 2020 WR Xavier Watts 

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