Craig Watts

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1991)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Craig Watts Jr.

| image = Craig Watts.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team = Baylor

| number =

| position = Graduate assistant

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|6|20}}

| birth_place = Colorado Springs, Colorado

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lbs = 325

| high_school = Killeen (TX)

| college = West Texas A&M

| undraftedyear = 2014

| pastteams =

| pastcoaching =

| status =

| highlights =

| pfr =

}}

Craig Watts Jr. (born June 20, 1991) is an American football coach and former offensive guard. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He attended West Texas A&M where he was a four-year letterman and twice named as a team captain during his junior and senior years. Watts acquired numerous accolades during his collegiate career, including Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and First-team All-American.

Professional career

=San Diego Chargers=

After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Watts was signed by the San Diego Chargers on May 22, 2014, following an impressive showing during the Chargers' Rookie Mini-Camp. On August 30, 2014, despite a productive pre-season, he was waived by the Chargers. On August 31, 2014, Watts was re-signed to the practice squad. On December 17, 2014, he was placed on the reserve/suspended list. On December 30, 2014, Watts was signed a future contract.

On September 21, 2015, Watts was waived by the Chargers. On September 25, 2015, he was signed to the practice squad. On November 9, 2015, he was elevated to the active roster. against the Chicago Bears. On November 10, 2015, Watts was once again waived. On November 12, 2015, he was re-signed to the Chargers' practice squad. On December 20, 2015, Watts was once again released from the team.Gehlken, Michael, [http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/dec/20/chargers-darrell-stuckey-qualcomm-stadium/ "Chargers' Stuckey to listen for cannon"], "San Diego Union-Tribune", December 20, 2015

=New York Jets=

Watts signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets on January 11, 2016.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 4 More to Reserve/Future Contracts |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Sign-4-More-to-ReserveFuture-Contracts/4e404fe4-8a05-4bcc-8f9e-9e8e4aafb891 |publisher=New York Jets |author=Lange, Randy |date=January 11, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113231607/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Sign-4-More-to-ReserveFuture-Contracts/4e404fe4-8a05-4bcc-8f9e-9e8e4aafb891 |archivedate=January 13, 2016 |accessdate=January 14, 2016 |url-status=dead }} He was released as a part of the final roster cuts on September 3, 2016.{{cite web|title=Jets Release 18 Players Ahead of Deadline|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Release-18-Players-Ahead-of-Deadline/2b32bd16-527f-46b2-a342-6d342cfc9b60|publisher=New York Jets|author=Lange, Randy|date=September 3, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907014109/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Release-18-Players-Ahead-of-Deadline/2b32bd16-527f-46b2-a342-6d342cfc9b60|archivedate=September 7, 2016|accessdate=September 6, 2016}} He was signed to the team's practice squad a day later.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 6 to Their Practice Squad|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Sign-6-to-Their-Practice-Squad/633607c1-1907-4cc6-88d5-ec784f7f038e|publisher=New York Jets|author=Lange, Randy|date=September 4, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907015431/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Sign-6-to-Their-Practice-Squad/633607c1-1907-4cc6-88d5-ec784f7f038e|archivedate=September 7, 2016|accessdate=September 6, 2016}} He was promoted to the active roster on December 13, 2016.{{cite web|title=Jets Place S Gilchrist & T Giacomini on IR|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Place-S-Gilchrist--T-Giacomini-on-IR/471a2699-ac49-46cc-b71a-438d6cba581c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829040211/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Place-S-Gilchrist--T-Giacomini-on-IR/471a2699-ac49-46cc-b71a-438d6cba581c|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2017|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=December 13, 2016}}

On September 1, 2017, Watts was waived by the Jets.{{cite web|title=Jets Release 10, Place 4 on Reserve Lists|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Release-10-Place-4-on-Reserve-Lists/9ec6ea97-ebc1-4823-901f-d4d218b96c37|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=September 1, 2017|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902093738/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Release-10-Place-4-on-Reserve-Lists/9ec6ea97-ebc1-4823-901f-d4d218b96c37|archive-date=September 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Coaching career

=Colorado State=

In January 2022, Watts joined Jay Norvell's staff at Colorado State as an offensive graduate assistant working with the offensive line.{{cite news |title=Rams Add Nine to Coaching and Support Staff |url=https://csurams.com/news/2022/1/21/football-rams-add-nine-to-coaching-and-support-staff.aspx |access-date=January 22, 2022 |work=csurams.com |publisher=Colorado State University SID |date=January 21, 2022}}

=Baylor=

In February 2023, Watts joined Dave Aranda's staff at Baylor University as an offensive line graduate assistant.

References

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