FWAA Notre Dame News

Notre Dame defensive tackle Howard Cross III helped contain Louisville’s high-powered offense and was the nation’s top-graded interior defensive lineman against the pass as the Fighting Irish improved to 4-1 with a 31-24 win over the Cardinals. For his shut-down play and grade, Cross earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 28, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the the Week 4 installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

The 2023 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, is highlighted by seven repeat All-Americans and a record 10 players from the four teams competing in the College Football Playoff at the front of players from 36 different schools. There are 22 schools represented from eight Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on the first team and all 10 conferences plus an Independent are included on the overall 54-man team.

Sparked by a tremendous set of midseason games that has paced his team into the postseason, Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts has earned  the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player as selected by the Football Writers Association of America and presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The nation’s interceptions leader was honored Monday night with the award at a gala event here..

Three finalists for the 2023 Outland Trophy – offensive tackle Joe Alt of Notre Dame, Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe and Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat – were announced Tuesday by the Football Writers Association of America.

Seven semifinalists for the 2023 Outland Trophy – five offensive linemen and two defensive tackles – were announced Wednesday by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee. The semifinalists are each from different schools within three conferences and Notre Dame and represent all four positions eligible for the award.

Five finalists for the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy representing three different conferences plus Notre Dame, one of them from the top team in the current College Football Playoff rankings and one who has the sixth-most tackles in the FBS, were named Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club as candidates for the award honoring the nation’s top defensive player.

Boston College is the winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for Week 9. The winning play was an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown by Chris Tyree that set the tone in a 58-7 win over Pitt.

DALLAS (FWAA) – Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts ascended to the top spot among FBS interceptions leaders with two picks during last week’s 58-7 win over Pitt. Now with six interceptions on the season and for maintaining a high standard in the Irish defensive backfield, Watts has earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 28, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Notre Dame’s Audric Estimé is this week’s nominee for the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Estime', a junior, has become one of the nation’s top running backs after losing his mother to sickle cell anemia.

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts’ two interceptions off USC quarterback Caleb Williams would have been notable enough in the No. 21 Irish's 48-20 domination over the No. 10 Trojans. But in addition to scoring those picks off the reigning Heisman Trophy winner that set up Irish tourchdowns, Watts also scored one himself on a fumble return that sealed Saturday’s primetime affair. For playing a key role on three of Notre Dame’s six touchdowns, Watts earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 14, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Offensive tackle Joe Alt and Notre Dame earned another dominant win Saturday, besting Central Michigan, 41-17, as the Fighting Irish (4-0) rolled up 578 total yards. Alt helped pace a 236-yard ground effort and protected quarterback Sam Hartman well, allowing him to throw for 330 yards and three touchdowns. For creating the holes springing the FBS’s current rushing yardage leader, Alt earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 16, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

DALLAS (FWAA) – North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye was the toast of Atlantic Coast Conference quarterbacks this season, throwing for 38 touchdowns and leading the league in passing yards (4,321) and total touchdowns (45). For his dynamic efforts that led the Tar Heels (9-5) to the ACC’s Coastal Division title, the Football Writers Association of America awarded him as its Freshman Player of the Year presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.

The 2022 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, is headlined by nine first-teamers from the four teams competing in the College Football Playoff, three repeat All-Americans and a record 16 total selections from the Big Ten Conference. There are 19 schools represented from six Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on the first team and 34 different schools and eight conferences plus an Independent included on the overall 54-man team.

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 12, the weekend of Nov. 19

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had two 100-yard rushers, held Clemson scoreless in the first half for the first time in three seasons and scored on special teams in dominating the No. 5 Tigers, 35-14, in South Bend. For posting its third straight win this season and its 27th straight regular-season win against Atlantic Coast Conference foes, Notre Dame (6-3) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 5, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 10, the weekend of Nov. 5:

Each week during the 2022 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage. Here are the top performances from Week 9, the weekend of Oct. 29:

A look at the top performances from freshman players and first-year head coaches in Week 6 of the 2022 college football season.

A look at the top performances from freshman players and first-year head coaches in Week 4 of the 2022 college football season.