Notre Dame graduate student safety Xavier Watts is a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the award’s sponsor, Paycom, announced Tuesday. The honor is given to the best defensive back in college football this season. Watts is one of 15 semifinalists, alongside Oregon’s Jabbar Muhammad, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Texas’ Jahdae Barron, Michigan’s Will Johnson, Georgia’s Malaki Starks, Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Arizona’s Tacario Davis, UNLV’s Jalen Catalon, California’s Nohl Williams, Illinois’ Xavier Scott, James Madison’s Terrence Spence, Navy’s Rayuan Lane III and So…