Newsstand: Notre Dame one of two programs with multiple unanimous All-Americans

College football All-America season is officially complete. And following the release of the American Football Coaches Association All-American teams, Notre Dame is one of two programs with multiple unanimous All-Americans. Offensive tackle Joe Alt and safety Xavier Watts both received the recognition.

Iowa also achieved two unanimous All-Americans with defensive back Cooper DeJean and punter Tory Taylor.

To become a unanimous All-American, a player must be a first-team All-American on five accredited lists: Associated Press (AP), the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF).

Alt is a repeat All-American after being named first-team by the AP and second-team by the four others in 2022. This season, Alt achieved the best Pro Football Focus offensive grade (91) of any offensive lineman with at least 20% of blocking snaps. He only surrendered five pressures in 368 pass-block snaps.

Watts is a first-time All-American after a breakout season in 2023. He led the country with seven interceptions. He also registered 47 tackles (28 solo), 2.5 for loss, 11 passes defended, a forced fumble and a sack.

2023 Unanimous All-Americans: RB Ollie Gordon II, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., WR Malik Nabers, TE Brock Bowers, OL Joe Alt, OL Cooper Beebe, OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL Zak Zinter, DL Laiatu Latu, DL T’Vondre Sweat, LB Payton Wilson, DB Cooper DeJean, DB Xavier Watts and P Tory Taylor.

Notre Dame Posts of the Day

New Irish wide receivers coach Mike Brown and quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli made an in-home visit to see transfer portal wide receiver addition Kris Mitchell.

Enjoyed @Im_MikeB and @GinoGuidugli coming through to the crib! Can’t wait to get to South Bend! #Goirish pic.twitter.com/iuMnvsQEHz

— Kris Mitchell (@KrisMitch10) December 15, 2023

Irish defensive line coach Al Washington reacted to the news of defensive lineman Rylie Mills coming back for a fifth season.

Mr. 99 is BACK !! https://t.co/CFL5mJnxOP pic.twitter.com/f5ZWXJ4sr6

— Al Washington (@CoachWash56) December 15, 2023

Irish running backs coach Deland McCullough praised running back Audric Estimé after he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Nothing but love and respect for who you are and what you are becoming. It was an honor to be a part of your story, but it has many more chapters that I can’t wait to see!!! Go be great Big Dric, you earned it https://t.co/wFvHsfDRN9

— Deland McCullough (@coachdmc) December 14, 2023

Notre Dame Quote of the Day

“(Head coach Marcus) Freeman and (director of recruiting) Chad Bowden knew Mike Brown and told me this is the best person to be in this position. So, I knew it was going to be someone that fit well.”

— Irish 2024 class five-star wide receiver commit Cam Williams on Brown.

Notre Dame Headlines of the Day

ND DL Rylie Mills returning for a fifth seasonLucky Charms: Marcus Freeman’s Thursday travels; recruits expected to visit ND this weekendND RB Audric Estimé opts out of bowl, declares for 2024 NFL DraftTransfer portal: Wake Forest graduate WR Jahmal Banks to visit NDThree ND football commits set to play in the 2023 U.S. Army BowlHey Horka! What is the future of the ND quarterback room after adding Riley Leonard?ND in the NFL: Brandon Aubrey sets another recordND football: Joe Alt, Xavier Watts named unanimous All-AmericansND football 2023-24 transfer portal tracker (updated Dec. 14)ND safety commit Kennedy Urlacher reviews home visit with Irish staffND five-star WR commit Cam Williams shares initial impressions of coach Mike BrownDominant defensive recruit returning to ND for the third time in two monthsTransfer Portal: Former South Carolina kicker Mitch Jeter commits to NDTen thoughts on ND football: Dec. 14, 2023Newsstand: ND LB JD Bertrand accepts Senior Bowl invite

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