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Xavier Watts

Drinking The Green Koolaid

Drinking The Green Koolaid

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Dec 7, 2007
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As I watched yesterday's game it brought a smile to my face watching how Xavier Watts balled out on his Senior Day. 3 tackles, a pass defended, a fumble recovery and an interception. He did it all. And if I heard correctly he had quite a contingent of family members (50+) at the game. He's been a horse back there at the safey position for the past couple of years. Just seems to have a real nose for where the ball is going. We've been blessed to see Xavier turn into a defensive monster in front of our own eyes after being converted from a WR into a first-team All American safety and Nagurski award winner. And he seems to be a quiet, humble kid.

Way to go, Xavier, way to go.
 
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Heck yeah man. I heard on a youtube channel a caller was saying how he should probably be thought of as an all time great DB. You kind of have to consider him that just by winning the Nagurski last year, but he’s following it up this year too.

The NIU play where he tried to throw the interception to Shuler (I think) should also not be forgotten. Heck of a player. I hope he has a Master’s Degree too before playing in the NFL. It will be interesting to see where he gets drafted.
 
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He's not rated highly on draft boards at safety, which I don't quite get. He was national POY of the year as a junior, The Nagurski award I think it is, and he's kicking as again this year. But all the PFF type scouting gurus and whatnot have him like, the 11th best safety or something. Or they did. Maybe he's starting to move up boards, headlining such a dominant ND defense.
 
FightingIrish44 said:
Heck yeah man. I heard on a youtube channel a caller was saying how he should probably be thought of as an all time great DB. You kind of have to consider him that just by winning the Nagurski last year, but he’s following it up this year too.

The NIU play where he tried to throw the interception to Shuler (I think) should also not be forgotten. Heck of a player. I hope he has a Master’s Degree too before playing in the NFL. It will be interesting to see where he gets drafted.
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I know, that was awesome. Probably would have won the game if he'd pulled it off, just because we would have. A positive play like that would have been enough to swing it the other way somehow.
 
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One of the mock drafts I saw (on Bleacher Report) has him going as a late first round pick, but most of them seem to think he will be second or third round pick. The pundits seem to love his motor, football IQ, and ability to play against the run.

Kyren Williams didn't get a lot of love coming out of ND, but he has blossomed into a really good NFL player. I believe Xavier can do the same.
 
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Something tells me he will be a fifth rounder or maybe later. He seems very intelligent, but maybe doesn’t have the physical traits to be drafted higher. I won’t be surprised if he has a longer career. Reminds me of Mathias Farley.
 
IMO, Xavier Watts deserves a mention in the Heisman vote! I realize defenders don't get consideration, but he's been an elite defender for two years now! I don't remember the last defender to get mention, maybe Monti Te'o?
 
Drinking The Green Koolaid said:
As I watched yesterday's game it brought a smile to my face watching how Xavier Watts balled out on his Senior Day. 3 tackles, a pass defended, a fumble recovery and an interception. He did it all. And if I heard correctly he had quite a contingent of family members (50+) at the game. He's been a horse back there at the safey position for the past couple of years. Just seems to have a real nose for where the ball is going. We've been blessed to see Xavier turn into a defensive monster in front of our own eyes after being converted from a WR into a first-team All American safety and Nagurski award winner. And he seems to be a quiet, humble kid.

Way to go, Xavier, way to go.
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Excellent post. Nothing I could add to it! Perfectly said.
 
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I think he's likely a day 2 pick. Drafted between 50 and 100.

He'll have a heckuva a shot to be someone's starting Safety in the NFL.
 
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Watts has played himself into at worst a 4th rd selection. He has displayed great athleticism and his instincts are elite.
 
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savvyandsassier said:
He's not rated highly on draft boards at safety, which I don't quite get. He was national POY of the year as a junior, The Nagurski award I think it is, and he's kicking as again this year. But all the PFF type scouting gurus and whatnot have him like, the 11th best safety or something. Or they did. Maybe he's starting to move up boards, headlining such a dominant ND defense.
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His two negatives that I see causing him to not be first round pick.

He doesn't look like he's overly fast or will have a great 40 - so his 40 time if really good could move him way up.

He's not the best tackler, and isn't the most physical in the run game.
 
Get Nasty said:
His two negatives that I see causing him to not be first round pick.

He doesn't look like he's overly fast or will have a great 40 - so his 40 time if really good could move him way up.

He's not the best tackler, and isn't the most physical in the run game.
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I am not sure what Xavier's 40 time will be, but I agree, he doesn't appear to be a blazer. But Kyle Hamilton ran a "slow" 40 at the NFL Combine and he is now generally considered to be the best safety in the league. (And of course, Harrison Smith is still doing ND proud.) So I don't necessarily place much stock in his 40 time, as long as it is respectable. With the safety position I think most GM's look first at instincts and football IQ, and Xavier is off the charts on that.

As far as run support, most of the scouting reports I have read say that is one of Xavier's real strengths. So I think he will grade out just fine on that.

That said, I think it is probably a stretch to see him going in the first round. But he only needs one team to fall in love with him.
 
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FightingIrish44 said:
Something tells me he will be a fifth rounder or maybe later. He seems very intelligent, but maybe doesn’t have the physical traits to be drafted higher. I won’t be surprised if he has a longer career. Reminds me of Mathias Farley.
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He is a big, tough rangy ball hawk on the back end. Not at all like Farley.
 
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Al Golden gets a lot of the credit for how well ND's defense has played, and deservedly so, but Mike Mickens has also been absolutely instrumental in the development of our secondary. Seems like just yesterday that our secondary was often our weakest position group. Mickens has sure changed that narrative, both with how well he has recruited and, just as importantly, the tremendous job he has done coaching these kids up. It has been particularly impressive to me how he has identified talented kids that are not highly sought after recruits--think Leonard Moore--and turned them into really good players. He is a phenomenal coach. Hopefully MF can keep him around for a few more years, though I expect eventually Mickens will be a coordinator somewhere.

 
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Great game by X last night. He came to play. 10 tackles, including 5 solo tackles and 0.5 TFL. And of course his interception was huge after Riley's first pass is batted into the air by an IU D-lineman and then intercepted. While it was very early in the game, really seemed to flip the momentum, especially after Jeremiyah did a house call from ND's own 2.

I was really impressed with X's tackling last night. He took really good lines to the ball and was hitting hard.

Man, we are going to miss X next year.
 
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Drinking The Green Koolaid said:
Al Golden gets a lot of the credit for how well ND's defense has played, and deservedly so, but Mike Mickens has also been absolutely instrumental in the development of our secondary. Seems like just yesterday that our secondary was often our weakest position group. Mickens has sure changed that narrative, both with how well he has recruited and, just as importantly, the tremendous job he has done coaching these kids up. It has been particularly impressive to me how he has identified talented kids that are not highly sought after recruits--think Leonard Moore--and turned them into really good players. He is a phenomenal coach. Hopefully MF can keep him around for a few more years, though I expect eventually Mickens will be a coordinator somewhere.

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Agreed. Mickens has a great record of developing his players at Cincinnati and now at Notre Dame. He only stays if there is some understood succession plan for him to replace Golden when Golden decides to either retire or take another stab at a head coaching position. But I expect both him and Deland to leave this year or next for a coordinator’s position, if not a lesser head coaching position.
 
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Drinking The Green Koolaid said:
Great game by X last night. He came to play. 10 tackles, including 5 solo tackles and 0.5 TFL. And of course his interception was huge after Riley's first pass is batted into the air by an IU D-lineman and then intercepted. While it was very early in the game, really seemed to flip the momentum, especially after Jeremiyah did a house call from ND's own 2.

I was really impressed with X's tackling last night. He took really good lines to the ball and was hitting hard.

Man, we are going to miss X next year.
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Normally the moniker “playmaker” is overrated in my opinion but not in Watts’ case. That was such a crucial play and not an easy catch. The ball was tipped and could have easily fallen incomplete. It was a really nice play and, if IU goes up 7-0, now we’re looking at a different game.

The guy just makes plays.
 
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The best safety I have seen at ND. Yes, including Harrison, Hamilton and whoever else I’m missing. Heck, he’s the best defensive back I’ve seen. The dude is special and truly selfless, as he started at receiver and I believe switched to DB due to number issues. Worked out well for everyone.
 
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I give a TON OF CREDIT to Coach Marcus Freeman for his recruiting masterpiece last January.

Cross, Mills and Xavier could all be playing on Sundays.

But they came back to play for CMF (that would not have happened under Kelly.)

Thanks Xavier, Thanks Coach.
 
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stu4don said:
I give a TON OF CREDIT to Coach Marcus Freeman for his recruiting masterpiece last January.

Cross, Mills and Xavier could all be playing on Sundays.

But they came back to play for CMF (that would not have happened under Kelly.)

Thanks Xavier, Thanks Coach.
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You are absolutely right, CMF persuading those guys to come back was just as good as bringing in three 5* players, even if we only have them for this year. You will see more of that now that kids can take in NIL money while they are still in school.

Really impressive to see the roster MF is building. While we haven't hit on many 5*, he is bringing in some really good players who are athletic and twitchy and then coaching them up. Our team speed, especially on defense, has noticeably improved. If we can beat UGA I hope that will help the staff build on our recruiting success. Kids that haven't given ND a thought may start taking notice of what MF is building here.
 
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Drinking The Green Koolaid said:
You are absolutely right, CMF persuading those guys to come back was just as good as bringing in three 5* players, even if we only have them for this year. You will see more of that now that kids can take in NIL money while they are still in school.

Really impressive to see the roster MF is building. While we haven't hit on many 5*, he is bringing in some really good players who are athletic and twitchy and then coaching them up. Our team speed, especially on defense, has noticeably improved. If we can beat UGA I hope that will help the staff build on our recruiting success. Kids that haven't given ND a thought may start taking notice of what MF is building here.
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Forgot to mention Kiser! Another guy barely in the top 200 as a recruit (Xavier didn't even make it!) but a coach on the field and a real leader.
 
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He is one of my favorite Notre Dame football players ever in that I respect his family's journey and his struggles. So proud of him - just Amazing!!!
The Indiana game was symbolic of his career and in my view put an exclamation point on him being one of the best and a consensus fist team All-American.


Go Irish!!!!
 
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