Eric Watts
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{distinguish|Erik Watts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Eric Watts
| image = 2022 FB UM vs UCONN064 (52367048124) (cropped) Eric Watts.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Watts with UConn in 2022
| current_team = New York Jets
| number = 58
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|1}}
| birth_place =Sumter, South Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 277
| high_school = Sumter
| college = UConn (2019–2023)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| pfr = WattEr00
}}
Eric Watts (born October 1, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UConn Huskies.
Early life
From Sumter, South Carolina, Watts attended Sumter High School where he played football and basketball, being selected to the Offense–Defense All-American Bowl in football while helping the team win county and region championships.{{Cite web|url=https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/football/roster/eric--watts/13200|publisher=UConn Huskies|title=Eric Watts}} As a senior, he had 8 1/2 sacks while helping Sumter win ten straight games.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nhregister.com/uconn/article/Speedy-Watts-DeVaughn-looking-to-thrive-in-new-13671626.php|newspaper=New Haven Register|title=Speedy Watts, DeVaughn looking to thrive in new UConn scheme|date=March 7, 2019|author=Fuller, Jim}} He committed to play college football for the UConn Huskies.{{Cite news|url=https://theitem.com/stories/sumter-highs-watts-is-uconn-bound,319834|newspaper=The Sumter Item|url-access=subscription|title=Sumter High's Watts is UConn bound|author=Brunson, Dennis|date=December 18, 2018}}
College career
Watts began seeing extended action at UConn as a true freshman in 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/2019/08/12/freshman-eric-watts-settling-into-pass-rush-role-plus-other-uconn-football-notes/|newspaper=Hartford Courant|title=Freshman Eric Watts settling into pass-rush role, plus other UConn football notes |author=Putterman, Alex|url-access=subscription|date=August 12, 2019}} He appeared in all 12 games that year and totaled 30 tackles.{{Cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/2023/08/05/working-through-the-dirt-uconn-defensive-lineman-eric-watts-sets-sights-high-for-senior-season/|newspaper=Hartford Courant|title=‘Working through the dirt,’ UConn defensive lineman Eric Watts sets sights high for senior season |author=Arruda, Joe|date=August 5, 2023|url-access=subscription}} The team's 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, Watts played 10 games while accumulating 39 tackles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-football/article/uconn-defensive-lineman-eric-watts-hoping-18282763.php|website=CTInsider.com|title=UConn football's Eric Watts has been loyal, now senior ready to lead Huskies, chase NFL dreams|author=Adamec, Carl|date=August 7, 2023}} He appeared in 13 games in the 2022 season and posted 49 tackles while leading the team in both tackles-for-loss (10) and sacks (7.0), additionally blocking two kicks and having two forced fumbles. He had 34 tackles and two sacks as a senior in 2023 and was invited to participate at the 2024 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/eric-watts-1.html|website=Sports-Reference.com|title=Eric Watts College Stats}}{{Cite news|url=https://dailycampus.com/2024/02/14/huskies-in-the-pros-haynes-and-watts-invited-to-combine-bouknight-released-by-charlotte/|newspaper=The Daily Campus|title=Huskies in the Pros: Haynes and Watts invited to combine, Bouknight released by Charlotte |date=February 14, 2024|author=Dexter, CJ}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5 5/8
| weight = 274
| dash = 4.67
| ten split = 1.65
| twenty split = 2.73
| shuttle = 4.38
| cone drill = 7.48
| vertical = 36.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 21
| arm span = 35 3/4
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/eric-watts/32005741-5471-5816-9bd1-0378fdee7901 |title=Eric Watts Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 21, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1049495&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Eric Watts College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 21, 2024}}
}}
Watts signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-2024-undrafted-free-agents|author1=Greenberg, Ethan|author2=Pullano, John|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=May 3, 2024}} He was also selected by the Memphis Showboats in the fifth round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17.{{cite news |title=2024 UFL College Draft: Showboats select Kansas QB Jason Bean with No. 1 pick |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufl/2024-ufl-college-draft-tracking-every-selection |website=FoxSports.com |date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 19, 2024}} Watts notably made the Jets' initial 53 man roster out of training camp as a UDFA.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/football/roster/eric--watts/13200 UConn Huskies bio]
{{New York Jets roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, Eric}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Players of American football from Sumter, South Carolina
Category:UConn Huskies football players