Nick Watkins Riding Confidence Into The Next Season

Like most athletes, Nick Watkins entered Notre Dame with high expectations.

Rivals.com ranked the Irish rising junior as the No. 15 cornerback nationally, the No. 186 player in the country and No. 22 player in Texas back in his prep days, earning him a four-star rating in the class of 2014.

But Watkins largely played just special teams in 11 games in his rookie campaign. He participated in 11 of Notre Dame’s first 12 games in 2015, but didn’t record a start – until some dominoes fell.

Starter KeiVarae Russell broke his leg Nov. 21 against Boston College, and his replacement Devin Butler broke his foot in a practice leading up to the Irish’s Fiesta Bowl matchup against Ohio State.

Insert Watkins into a starting role. For the first time in his career.

"It was a tough transition,” Watkins said, on his limited playing time for two seasons. “Sitting on the sidelines was tough.

“Special teams, I understand that's what you gotta do. You gotta earn your way in. But it was just different, just like it is for all the guys in the locker room. Transitioning from being the man in high school to you gotta earn your way up and earn your playing time.

"[Starting against Ohio State] was a huge step. After that game, I felt like there wasn’t anything that I couldn't do. Like I can't hold myself back. I could just go out there and have fun."

It’s not hard to relate with that nod being a huge confidence booster for Watkins – he was thrust suddenly into an important role in a New Year’s Six bowl against the defending national champions. In a way, many things going forward would naturally seem downhill, following the pressure of that game.

"When Coach Kelly says 'you're starting', your confidence has to go up,” the rising junior said. “You can't be scared or be soft.

“When you hear start by your name, it's like 'hey'. This is what you come to play Notre Dame football for. You don't come here just to be happy on the team. You come here to be a player for Notre Dame and compete for a national championship.

"I'm a starter - I'm out there with the one's. In my mind I'm a starter. I feel like I'm my only competition.

“I failed myself if I'm not starting against Texas."

Picking up that starting nod in the season opener in Austin would be extra meaningful for the DeSoto, Texas native. To ensure he earns it between now and fall, he knows exactly what he has to do.

Just make plays.

Notre Dame’s defense intercepted just nine passes in 2015, tied for 92nd nationally with eight other teams.

Thus, defensive backs coach Todd Lyght has implored his unit to force more disruptions. It was especially noticeable at the April 1 spring practice, when Lyght was demonstratively verbal with several of his players following both good and bad plays.

“That's just Coach Lyght,” Watkins said. “You can't change his coaching style; he's a great coach.

“He's going to yell at you when you're down, but that's what your teammates are for - to lift you back up, and then you just go out and make a play. You can't dwell on it. You just have to think about the next play.

"There's time where I had the opportunity to make the play, but the ball just - goes crazy. Just make plays. That's what he's preaching and that's what we're all taking to heart. Trying to create turnovers.

“Obviously we didn't have the most turnovers on defense last year, so this spring that's what they're preaching and that's what we're trying to do."

Behind his newfound confidence, perhaps Watkins is finally ready to complete the jump between having opportunities to make plays and finishing them.