Notre Dame Football’s defense is one of the best in the country, so how did its start get snubbed?
Few in the college football community would argue against the fact that Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts is one of the top defenders in the game. However, it seems those skeptics are the very individuals responsible for selecting this year’s finalists for the Bronco Nagurski Award.
Despite winning the honor last year and maintaining a similar level of performance that earned him the trophy in 2023, Watts won’t have the opportunity to claim it again this season.
This oversight comes even though he was among the contenders until just this week. It raises the question of what more Watts could have done as a safety for one of the nation’s best pass defenses, having recorded four interceptions and effectively neutralized every passing offense he faced.
Notre Dame football star defender gets massively snubbed
So who do the voters for the Nagurski Award believe are more deserving of the trophy?
- Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron
- Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter
- Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham
- South Carolina edge Kyle Kennard
All are talented players who have certainly made their mark on their respective teams. However, it’s difficult to argue that any of the four are definitively better than Watts.
Barron has recorded 38 tackles, 8 passes defended, and 4 interceptions.
Carter boasts 45 tackles, 8 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
Graham has 37 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Kennard may have only 25 tackles but impressively tallies 10.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
When comparing these stats to Watts’ numbers—38 tackles, 7 passes defended, 4 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble—it’s particularly frustrating that he is ranked below Graham, who, while a strong force on defense, doesn’t have notably better numbers.
Though the Notre Dame star doesn’t need the Bronco Nagurski Award to validate his dominance as a safety, this seems to be an odd oversight for a previous winner.
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