Bucs head coach Todd Bowles made it identified on the 2025 NFL Mix this week that he’s on the lookout for ballhawks – it doesn’t matter what place they play. Taking a look at some prospects who match that mildew, one doesn’t must overthink how Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts and Benjamin Morrison might make an affect in Tampa Bay’s secondary.
Watts and Morrison each had formal conferences with the crew in Indianapolis and spoke on Thursday morning about how issues went.
Xavier Watts Is “Always Trying To Get The Ball”
Notre Dame S Xavier Watts – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Beginning with security Xavier Watts, the very first thing that jumps out about him is his ball manufacturing for the Combating Irish. Watts amassed a whopping 13 interceptions over the previous two years in simply 29 video games.
Taking a look at them, he averaged 21 yards per interception return. A one-time broad receiver and linebacker, he discovered his dwelling attacking the soccer on the defensive again finish.
“To win the football game, you got to get the ball,” Watts stated about his mindset making performs on the sector. “I feel like Coach [Al] Golden has done a great job of instilling that to me and the team at Notre Dame. When I’m out there, I’m always trying to get the ball.”
What stands out on tape is his ball instincts, one thing Todd Bowles is definitely when evaluating which gamers might make a constructive affect inside his protection.
To Watts, it stems from his background.
“Yeah, it’s 100% natural,” Watts added. “I played receiver, so the way I catch the ball is just like a receiver, I’m just playing defense. At the same time, I’m a defensive back now, so I got to play like a DB but the ball skills do come from [being] a receiver.”
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Matt Matera/PR
Bowles stresses the significance of communication in his secondary, and final season he usually voiced that it was miscommunication that was the protection’s downfall. On the flip facet, the Notre Dame security acknowledges how important speaking and constructing belief is.
“You got to communicate. I was like a really quiet guy, but you got to communicate to win the game,” he stated. “Having that camaraderie and trust in each other and you just go out there and play football.”
What Would The Bucs Be Getting By Drafting Xavier Watts?
Xavier Watts went additional when requested what sort of participant and particular person he can be for the NFL crew that drafted him.
Notre Dame S Xavier Watts – Photograph by: USA In the present day
“The type of person I am, I’m caring and trustworthy,” Watts stated. “All the guys, all the teammates I’m going to be around, I want those guys to trust me. I want them to know I care for them. I want to go out there and work every day for them. It’s never anything about individually, I’m not trying to get stats or anything. I want to go out there and play for the program I’m going to be a part of.”
The Bucs worth versatility within the secondary and have cross-trained nearly each participant on the again finish. Whether or not it’s Antoine Winfield Jr. taking part in a yr at nickel earlier than going again to security, Tykee Smith being drafted as a nickel however in dialog to be on the different security spot, Zyon McCollum briefly studying the nickel and security spots, or Christian Izien filling in wherever he’s wanted, versatility is a prerequisite.
It’s not one thing Watts shys away from and talked about one younger participant who’s carried out it within the NFL.
“Just being able to play multiple positions,” Watts stated about what it takes to be a modern-day defensive again. “You can’t be one-dimensional, you want to be able to go out there and do multiple things. [Lions star] Brian Branch can play safety, nickel, and he could probably play corner too. Just being versatile is really good to have.”
When requested about his assembly with the Bucs, he thinks taking part in subsequent to Antoine Winfield Jr. can be an important match.
“It would be really cool. He’s a really good player, Tampa Bay is a great spot,” Watts stated. “We’ll see what happens.”
Benjamin Morrison Is A Tantalizing CB Choice
Notre Dame S Xavier Watts and CB Benjamin Morrison – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Benjamin Morrison enters the 2025 NFL Draft coming off a season the place he missed 10 video games with a season-ending hip harm. Morrison stays a promising cornerback prospect who might nonetheless be taken within the first spherical.
With the Bucs needing so as to add one other cornerback, what might he add to the room? Nicely, Xavier Watts gave Pewter Report a rundown of what qualities his Combating Irish teammate possesses.
“‘B-Mo is my guy,’” Watts stated. “He’s a really good football player. He’s what, six-foot? I’m going to give you the whole breakdown. Six-foot, 190-195 pounds, he’s got long arms. He’s got good technique, really patient. He can come up and make tackles like he needs to and he’s an amazing cover guy.”
Morrison recorded six interceptions in 2022 and three interceptions in 2023. Though he failed to come back down with an interception in 2024, he put loads of ballhawking tape on the market to investigate.
What provides one other degree of intrigue is the familiarity Todd Bowles has together with his father, who he performed with throughout his final NFL season in 1993.
Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison had a proper assembly with the #Bucs.
Fascinating factoid – Morrison’s dad Darryl and Todd Bowles had been teammates within the NFL for Washington in 1993. That was Morrison’s rookie season and the final of Bowles’ taking part in profession. pic.twitter.com/HSCY5i2vbA
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