North Charlotte Today

Xavier Watts, a safety from Notre Dame, recently completed a demanding college football season that included 16 games and culminated in the National Championship game. Despite the intensity of the season, Watts chose not to participate in on-field workouts at the Indianapolis combine. He explained his decision by saying, "It was a long season. I didn't want to push anything to limits I didn't think I could go to." Instead, he focused on interviews with teams, hoping to demonstrate his leadership qualities as a former team captain and his instincts on the field.

Watts plans to showcase his skills at Notre Dame's Pro Day. His performance last season included 83 tackles, nine passes defended, and six interceptions. A notable moment was during the Virginia game when he made an interception based on instinctive play.

Travis Hunter from Colorado is another player drawing attention at the combine. Known for his versatility as both a cornerback and receiver, Hunter won the Heisman trophy with impressive statistics on both offense and defense. During interviews with NFL teams, there has been interest in him playing various positions. However, Hunter expressed confidence in handling dual roles: "I know I can do it," he stated.

Hunter's experience under coach Deion Sanders adds an interesting dimension to his career as Sanders himself was known for excelling in multiple sports.

Andrew Mukuba's journey from Harare, Zimbabwe to becoming an NFL prospect is notable for its unique challenges. As a safety who communicates extensively on the field, Mukuba attributes part of his skill set to learning English after immigrating to Austin, Texas at age nine. His recent transfer from Clemson to Texas allowed him to play closer to home during his final college year.

Mukuba accumulated significant stats with 69 tackles and five interceptions last season. He expressed confidence about entering the draft: "I'm hoping to prove to myself really but also prove to everybody that I'm the best safety in this draft for sure."