“That action may blow by him, simply given his lack of experience, especially compared to Joseph, fifth-years DJ Brown and Houston Griffith, and junior Ramon Henderson. Watts has a knack for finding the action.
“Watts’ 15 tackles on only 88 snaps might be an inflated piece of praise, simply given the nature of playing significantly against Navy, but it is still a valid bit to note. “It just took him a year, year-and-a-half, for that light switch to come on and really grasp what we’re doing on defense.” “He has always had the natural instincts, natural athletic ability, all that,” Notre Dame safeties coach Chris O’Leary said. Some of that is the learning curve of moving from linebacker and, before that, from receiver. I left a couple plays out there last year that I wish I could get back.” “Something that I need to work on is more so coverage, working on man-to-man skills,” he said this spring. That led to far more playing time and many more contributions, including starting in the season’s final four games.Ģ022: 13 games, four starts 39 tackles with two for loss including one sack and three pass breakups. Making three tackles kept him in the rotation until Irish star Kyle Hamilton suffered a season-ending injury and Watts needed to play a bit more, totaling 15 tackles as a sophomore on just 88 snaps.Įntering 2022, Watts finally had a position he knew he would stick at. His most notable work quickly came against Navy, his linebacker’s build meshing well against the triple-option. He then moved to linebacker before 2021 and to safety halfway through that season. Watts saw action in 2020 only because Notre Dame endured a coronavirus outbreak in its locker room.
Three-star Jay Brunelle transferred to Yale last year, catching four passes for 106 yards and a touchdown last season. Former five-star Jordan Johnson entered the transfer portal for a second time this winter, leaving Central Florida, and as best as this space can ascertain, he never found a home. Of those three signees, not only is Watts the only one still playing with the Irish, he is the only one still playing FBS football.
Recruiting: Most of the Big Ten chased the Nebraska native before he joined an intriguing Notre Dame receivers class, at least on paper. Well, starting in Dublin may be a likelihood regardless, given how his physical game fits against the triple-option, but a September starting role is there for the taking if Watts delivers. Listed measurements: 5-foot-11 ¾, 198 pounds.Ģ023-24 year, eligibility: A senior, Watts has two seasons of eligibility remaining and, if he were to suffer an unfortunate injury, he could use three years to play them thanks to the universal pandemic eligibility waiver overlooking his two-game appearance in 2020 and the usual year of eligibility it would have preserved.ĭepth Chart: If Watts puts forth a solid showing this preseason - beginning with today’s first practice - he could be a starter in Dublin.
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