Desmond Watson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie defensive tackle, eats to win. If that weren’t enough, he’s breaking news by being the heaviest player in the history of the NFL!!! Watson, who plays at 6-foot-6 and 449 pounds, is an absolute freak. His path to this astounding accomplishment has been nothing short of movie script compelling. He has displayed seismic athletic accomplishments on his tremendous path from collegiate pigskin to the NFL gridiron. That journey has inspired an incredible change in his body.
Watson’s pro day showcased his extraordinary abilities. Weighing in at 464 pounds, Johnson still finished with an impressive 36 repetitions on the bench press to show off his incredible strength. He registered a 5.93-second time in the 40-yard dash, impressive speed for a man of his stature. Watson revealed his eye-popping vertical jump while just showing off his leaping skills at 25-inches vertical. This impressive accomplishment showcases his rare combination of size and athleticism.
Throughout his college career at the University of Florida, Watson steadily increased his weight, starting at 385 pounds as a freshman and reaching 449 pounds by his senior year. This development marks not just his physical growth, but his growing dedication to the game. His final campaign saw him play in all 13 games for the Gators, two of which were starts. All told, he played 297 defensive snaps, making plays deep into the team’s aforementioned playoff run.
Statistically, that performance highlighted the impact that Watson had on the field. On a per game basis he recorded four tackles for a loss and averaged 1.3 tackles per game. His run stop win rate of 4.1% in critical situations, specifically on plays where the down and distance was three yards or fewer, highlights his impact in defensive scenarios. In addition, he created a pressure percentage of 1.2%, ranked fifth in total pressures with five and 1.5 sacks in his collegiate career.
Watson’s final college game took place at the Buccaneers’ home ground, Raymond James Stadium, providing a fitting conclusion to his collegiate career as he transitioned to the NFL. Everyone who has tracked his path to this point at least feels his story. He’s still incredulous, even after doing all this himself, at how surreal a ride this has been.
In looking back over all he has achieved, Watson could only agree that life “is like a movie,” sometimes. This expression sums up the dreamlike sequence of events that either just happened, or too quickly became the past, bringing him into the professional circuit. The encouragement from his coaches, teammates, and family members has been fundamental in his development and success thus far in his career.
As he prepares to enter this new chapter with the Buccaneers, Watson is not blind to the work that needs to be done. The leap to pro football requires physical domination but more importantly mental toughness and flexibility. He hopes to make a positive impact on the team while furthering his own skillset.
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