Notre Dame Football: Key defender could return for 2024 campaign

When the seniors were going through their final warmups and walks during pregame before the Wake Forest contest, there was one name that was noticeably absent.

Xavier Watts didn’t go through the usual rigamarole of a senior. He didn’t walk with Sam Hartman or Jack Kiser.

Watts is a senior. He had every right to do it. He should have done it, and the fact that he didn’t could be very good news for Notre Dame football faithful.

I say could be because it doesn’t appear anything is settled just yet. But because Watts’ first year in South Bend was in 2020, the senior has an extra year of eligibility if he wants it. Whether he decides to take it is still very much up in the air.

Notre Dame football could see Xavier Watts return

Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman addressed Watts not walking before the Senior Day win during his Monday press conference. While he didn’t shed much light on things, he made it clear that everyone involved is aware of the special situation.

“He’s not a senior. He was a guy I talked with — a lot of those guys that might be going into their fourth year — I had a conversation earlier in the year, ‘Do you want to be considered a senior this year?’ He was one of them that did not. I don’t know what he’s going to do in his future. I’m sure that’s what this question is pertaining to. I don’t know. He hasn’t made a decision (on declaring for the NFL Draft), but he didn’t want to be considered a senior.”

In the grand scheme of things, Xavier Watts not designating himself a senior just leaves his options open. He can come back for one more year in South Bend. Or he can still decide to head to the NFL.

At the moment, it would certainly make more sense for the nation’s leader in interceptions to go make that money. Especially since his seven interceptions are also the first seven interceptions of his collegiate career.

On the other hand, it makes sense for the defensive back to show that 2023 wasn’t a one-off. If he can show that what he’s become this season is a permanent upgrade, he’s likely to go even higher in the 2025 draft.

If Xavier Watts does come back, Notre Dame football would obviously welcome him with open arms.

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Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson is not the least bit happy about the manner in which Notre Dame serenaded quarterback Sam Hartman during Saturday’s matchup between the schools. It was the final home game in South Bend, Ind., for Hartman, less than three months after he played his first contest for the Fighting Irish. “(Notre Dame) bought him and rented him for a year, and now they love him?” Clawson said at his Wednesday press conference. Hartman became a star quarterback at Wake Forest and spent five seasons at the school before transferring to Notre Dame for this season and raking in NIL money. He passed for 12,967 yards, 110 touchdowns and 41 interceptions for the Demon Deacons. While Clawson understands the rules now in place, he wasn’t the least impressed with the way Notre Dame flaunted his former quarterback during the Irish’s 45-7 whipping of Wake Forest. “Here’s a guy we recruited and we developed, and they are putting on a video of him, saying ‘We will always love you,’ ” Clawson said. “I’m like, ‘you only dated him for a couple of months. It can’t be love.’ We are the ones who love him. We had five years with him. You rented him for a season. “They bought him and rented him for a year, and now they love him. When that video played, it’s just like, ‘holy cow, this is where college football is.’ ” Hartman has passed for 2,549 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season for Notre Dame. Clawson said he has no ill will towards Hartman, who passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns. “Sam and I had a great discussion before the game and after the game, and I love the young man. I really do,” Clawson said. “I don’t blame him at all for what he did. That’s the system now. For him to have the opportunity to have that experience, and make that type of money in one year, who can fault him?”