Danny Watkins

Watkins' father, Todd, is a road grader. In high school, Watkins played rugby and hockey as a defenseman, but became the "designated goon" because of his size. He became a junior firefighter when he was 16 after visiting the West Kelowna Fire and Rescue squad.{{cite news |author=Patton, Steve |title=Hockey history helps Watkins |url=http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=304921 |work=Reading Eagle |date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=May 1, 2011 |archive-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926173809/http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=304921 |url-status=dead }}

Watkins enrolled at Butte College to study fire sciences in order to become a firefighter after a year as a junior firefighter. The school's football coach recruited him to play for their football team, at the age of 22 it was the first time Watkins had ever played football. He played football at Butte from 2007−2008, helping them to a perfect 11−0 record in 2008. Butte coaches sent game tape of his to Division I-A schools, and California, Hawaii, and Baylor were the schools interested.{{cite news |last=McLane |first=Jeff |title='Tough guy' Watkins brings 'tude to the line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/147978735/ |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/147978735/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/147978766/ 2] |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 30, 2011 |access-date=May 24, 2024}}

Watkins transferred to Baylor University,{{cite news|title=Canadian jumps from fire to NFL|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/nfl/canadian-jumps-from-fire-to-nfl-1.1020165|work=CBC.ca|access-date=April 29, 2011|date=January 26, 2011}} after head coach Art Briles was impressed with his game tape at Butte. Watkins started at left offensive tackle as a junior in 2009 for the Bears. He replaced Jason Smith, who was drafted second overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2009 NFL draft.

He was selected fourth overall by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in the 2010 CFL Draft, but played out his last year at Baylor University, the 2010 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/bc-selects-danny-watkins-with-4th-pick |title=BC selects Danny Watkins with 4th pick |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905123154/http://www.cfl.ca/article/bc-selects-danny-watkins-with-4th-pick |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Prior to the 2011 NFL draft, Watkins was projected to be drafted in the first or second round.{{cite web |title=Danny Watkins, DS #2 OG, Baylor |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=89839&draftyear=2011&genpos=OG |work=nfldraftscout.com |access-date=April 30, 2011}} He hired former NFL offensive lineman Joe Panos as his agent.{{cite news |author=Lefko, Perry |title=Watkins draft elite |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/2011/04/07/lefko_on_watkins/ |work=sportsnet.ca |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=July 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409221506/http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/2011/04/07/lefko_on_watkins/ |archive-date=April 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

{{nfl predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 3+3/8

| weight = 310

| dash = 5.40

| ten split = 1.82

| twenty split = 2.97

| shuttle = 4.62

| cone drill = 7.61

| vertical = 26

| broad ft = 7

| broad in = 8

| bench = 29

| wonderlic =

| arm span = 34+1/4

| hand span = 10+1/8

| note = All values from 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/danny-watkins/32005741-5418-5784-c755-22f99f2f9e1b |title=Danny Watkins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=July 18, 2021}}

}}

Watkins invited five of his friends from the West Kelowna fire department to join him at the draft. On the morning of the draft, Watkins and his firefighter friends visited a New York City firehouse that lost several members during the September 11 attacks.{{cite web |last=Masters |first=Mark |title=Watkins still reeling from NFL draft |url=http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/04/30/watkins-still-reeling-from-nfl-draft/ |work=The National Post |access-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129123415/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/04/30/watkins-still-reeling-from-nfl-draft/ |archive-date=January 29, 2013 }}

Watkins was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2011 NFL draft.{{cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |title=Finding Danny Watkins |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2014/12/17/danny-watkins-philadelphia-eagles |website=SI.com |date=December 17, 2014 |access-date=May 24, 2024}} He became the oldest first-round selection since 1971 at the age of 26. He was the first Canadian to be drafted in the first rounds of both the CFL and NFL drafts since Mike Schad in 1986.{{cite news |last=Beamish |first=Mike |title=Canadian ready to put out pass rusher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/147978466/ |work=Montreal Gazette |date=April 30, 2011 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/147978466/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/147978562/ 2] |access-date=May 24, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was projected to start as a rookie at right offensive guard and signed a four-year contract worth $7.9 million on August 1.{{cite news |author=Florio, Mike |title=Danny Watkins agrees to terms with Eagles |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/01/danny-watkins-agrees-to-terms-with-eagles/ |work=profootballtalk.com |date=August 1, 2011 |access-date=August 1, 2011}} However, the Eagles claimed Kyle DeVan off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts before the start of the season and Watkins was benched. Watkins was inactive for the first two weeks of the season and was active for a week three game against the New York Giants, but did not play. He was inactive again in week four, but was promoted to the starting right guard on October 5, due to the ineffectiveness of DeVan through the first four games of the season.{{cite news |author=Mosher, Geoff |title=Source: Eagles to start first-round pick Watkins |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20111005/SPORTS02/111005009/Source-Eagles-start-first-round-pick-Watkins |work=delawareonline.com |date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=October 5, 2011}} Watkins was released on August 31, 2013.{{cite news |last=Sheridan |first=Phil |title=Eagles release Danny Watkins |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9619720/danny-watkins-released-philadelphia-eagles |website=ESPN.com |date=August 31, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2024}} Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said the "innate toughness" Watkins showed at Baylor never showed up in the NFL.{{cite news |last=Alper |first=Josh |title=Howie Roseman on Danny Watkins: The toughness never materialized |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/howie-roseman-on-danny-watkins-the-toughness-never-materialized |website=NBCSports.com |date=September 1, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2024}}

The Miami Dolphins signed Watkins to a one-year contract on September 3, 2013, after waiving backup lineman Josh Samuda.{{cite news|author=Beasley, Adam H. |title=Former first-round pick Danny Watkins gets second chance with Miami Dolphins|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/04/3602969/miami-dolphins-cut-lineman-josh.html|work=miamiherald.com|date=September 4, 2013| access-date=September 15, 2013}}

In 2014, it was reported that Watkins had left the NFL and was a firefighter in Frisco, Texas.{{cite web|last1=Lombardo|first1=Matt|title=Former Eagles first rounder Danny Watkins leaves NFL, returns to firefighting|url=http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/08/former_eagles_first_rounder_danny_watkins_leaves_nfl_returns_to_firefighting.html|website=NJ.com|date=August 26, 2014 |access-date=September 21, 2014}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite news |title=Carlton: Burning desire drives Baylor's Danny Watkins |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/baylor-bears/20100809-Carlton-Burning-desire-drives-Baylor-9253.ece |work=dallasnews.com |date=August 9, 2010 |access-date=April 30, 2011}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120331190014/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/roster/danny-watkins/d103ee4d-e780-4cee-969d-8cf134554d40/ Philadelphia Eagles bio]
• [http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/watkins_danny00.html Baylor Bears football bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816090014/http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/watkins_danny00.html |date=August 16, 2011 }}

{{2011 NFL Draft}}

{{EaglesFirstPick}}

{{Eagles2011DraftPicks}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, Danny}}

Category:1984 births

Category:American football offensive tackles

Category:American football offensive guards

Category:Butte Roadrunners football players

Category:Baylor Bears football players

Category:Players of American football from British Columbia

Category:Living people

Category:Miami Dolphins players

Category:Philadelphia Eagles players

Category:Sportspeople from Kelowna