Jaylen Watkins
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jaylen Watkins
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 37, 26, 27, 20
| current_team =
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|11|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 194
| high_school = Cape Coral
(Cape Coral, Florida)
| college = Florida
| draftyear = 2014
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 101
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2014}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2020}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 93
| statlabel2 = Pass deflections
| statvalue2 = 9
| pfr = WatkJa01
}}
Jaylen Watkins (born November 27, 1991) is an American former professional football safety. He played college football for the University of Florida. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Early life
A native of Cape Coral, Florida, Watkins attended Cape Coral High School. He played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back at Cape Coral, leading his team to an 11–1 record in his senior season, advancing to the FHSAA 4A Regional semifinals. He passed for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior and rushed for 928 yards with 10 touchdowns. He also had 29 receptions for 461 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran track at Cape Coral and advanced to the 4A Track Championships in the 4 × 100 relay. He was selected to play in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.{{cite news
|url=http://www.alligator.org/sports/football/article_ee48aca4-cd97-11de-a43d-001cc4c03286.html|title=Gators commit will play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl|first=Michael|last=Pipitone|date=November 10, 2009|work=The Independent Florida Alligator|access-date=May 10, 2014}}
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated as the fourth best cornerback prospect in his class.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jaylen-Watkins-92696|title=Jaylen Watkins|work=Rivals.com|access-date=May 10, 2014}}
College career
Watkins attended the University of Florida from 2010 to 2013. He appeared in 48 games, with 28 starts, at both cornerback and safety. He primarily played special teams as a freshman, before earning an increased role in the defense as a sophomore and throughout his tenure at Florida. During his career, he accumulated 133 tackles, including four for loss, 21 pass breakups and three interceptions.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/2
| weight = 194
| dash = 4.41
| ten split = 1.50
| twenty split = 2.56
| shuttle = 4.50
| cone drill = 7.13
| vertical = 31.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 22
| arm span = 30 5/8
| hand span = 9 5/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jaylen-watkins/32005741-5423-0043-9b90-1b70dcf7e77f |title=Jaylen Watkins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 10, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=113502&DraftYear=2014 |title=2014 Draft Scout Jaylen Watkins, Florida NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=December 15, 2022}}
}}
=Philadelphia Eagles (first stint)=
Watkins was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2014 NFL draft.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/05/10/eagles-select-db-jaylen-watkins-in-fourth-round/8938137/|title=Eagles select DB Jaylen Watkins in fourth round|first=Rob|last=Maaddi|date=May 10, 2014|work=USA Today|access-date=May 10, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2014/5/10/5702578/nfl-draft-results-fourth-round-jaylen-watkins-florida|title=NFL Draft Results: Jaylen Watkins to Philadelphia Eagles with No. 101 Pick|first=Mike|last=Kaye|date=May 10, 2014|work=Bleeding Green Nation|access-date=May 10, 2014}}
On September 5, 2015, Watkins was released by the Eagles.{{cite web|title=Philadelphia Eagles Roster Cuts 2015: Team officially trims down to 52 players|url=http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2015/9/5/9265507/philadelphia-eagles-roster-cuts-2015-official-depth-chart-list-52-players-team|author=Gowton, Brandon Lee|website=BleedingGreenNation.com|date=September 5, 2015|access-date=March 4, 2017}}
=Buffalo Bills=
On September 7, 2015, Watkins was signed to the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills and practiced with his brother Sammy Watkins.{{cite web|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-add-Andre-Fluellen-to-53-man-roster-Five-added-to-practice-squad/fc39cb66-512d-405e-a716-c4960bc9b3ff|work=BuffaloBills.com|title=Bills add Andre Fluellen to 53-man roster; Five added to practice squad|date=September 7, 2015|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909034550/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-add-Andre-Fluellen-to-53-man-roster-Five-added-to-practice-squad/fc39cb66-512d-405e-a716-c4960bc9b3ff|archive-date=September 9, 2015|url-status=dead}}
=Philadelphia Eagles (second stint)=
On November 27, 2015, Watkins was re-signed by the Eagles off the Bills' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Eagles sign Jaylen Watkins away from Bills, place Nolan Carroll on injured reserve|url=http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2015/11/27/9807960/eagles-jaylen-watkins-bills-nolan-carroll-cornerback-practice-squad-contract-free-agent-lions|author=Gowton, Brandon Lee|website=BleedingGreenNation.com|date=November 27, 2015|access-date=March 4, 2017}}
On March 4, 2017, Watkins signed a one-year extension with the Eagles.{{cite web|title=Jaylen Watkins Agrees To One-Year Deal|url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Jaylen-Watkins-Agrees-To-One-Year-Deal/444316fe-04bd-4464-8719-0b690ce4e5cd|author=Spadaro, Dave|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=March 4, 2017}} Watkins won a Super Bowl ring when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Lindsay H. | title=Super Bowl 2018: Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots in stunner | website=USA TODAY | date=2018-02-05 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super/2018/02/04/super-bowl-2018-score-philadelphia-eagles-new-england-patriots/305840002/ | access-date=2024-10-31}}
=Los Angeles Chargers (first stint)=
On March 30, 2018, Watkins signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.{{cite web|title=Chargers Agree to Terms with Versatile DB Jaylen Watkins|url=http://www.chargers.com/news/2018/03/30/chargers-agree-terms-versatile-db-jaylen-watkins|author=Henne, Ricky|website=Chargers.com|date=March 30, 2018|access-date=March 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505112426/http://www.chargers.com/news/2018/03/30/chargers-agree-terms-versatile-db-jaylen-watkins|archive-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=dead}} In the Chargers' second preseason game, Watkins suffered a torn ACL and was placed on injured reserve on August 19, 2018.{{cite web|title=Chargers Add Safety Micah Hannemann Off Waivers|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-add-safety-micah-hannemann-off-waivers|author=Henne, Ricky|website=Chargers.com|date=August 19, 2018}}
On February 15, 2019, Watkins re-signed with the Chargers.{{cite web|title=Chargers Re-sign DB Jaylen Watkins|url=https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/15/chargers-re-sign-db-jaylen-watkins/|work=Chargers Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=February 15, 2019}}
=Houston Texans=
On March 30, 2020, Watkins signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans.{{cite web|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-agree-to-terms-on-the-following-moves|title=Texans agree to terms on the following moves|work=HoustonTexans.com|date=March 21, 2020}} He was released on September 5, 2020.{{cite web|title=Transactions: Roster Moves (9-5-2020)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/transactions-roster-moves-9-5-2020|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=September 5, 2020}}
=Los Angeles Chargers (second stint)=
On November 7, 2020, Watkins was signed to the Chargers' practice squad.{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Chargers Make Roster Moves |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-make-roster-moves-nov7 |website=Chargers.com |date=November 7, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020}} He was elevated to the active roster on November 21 and December 17 for the team's weeks 11 and 15 games against the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Chargers put leading tackler Kyzir White on COVID-19 list |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30360614/los-angeles-chargers-put-leading-tackler-kyzir-white-covid-19-list |website=ESPN.com |date=November 21, 2020 |access-date=December 27, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Chargers Make Moves Before Thursday Night Football |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-make-moves-before-thursday-night-football |website=Chargers.com |date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2021}} On January 1, 2021, Watkins was promoted to the active roster.{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Chargers Make Roster Moves Prior to Sunday's Game |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-make-roster-moves-prior-to-sunday-s-game |website=Chargers.com |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2021}}
Personal life
He is the older half-brother of wide receiver Sammy Watkins.{{cite news|url=http://dailyorange.com/2013/10/brothers-sammy-jaylen-watkins-share-powerful-bond-through-stardom/|title=Brothers Sammy, Jaylen Watkins share powerful bond through stardom|first=Jesse|last=Dougherty|date=October 4, 2013|work=The Daily Orange|access-date=May 10, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college-football/big-brother-influence-florida-safety-jaylen-watkin/nbbRg/|title=Big-brother influence: Florida safety Jaylen Watkins has been a guiding influence for the Gators' young defenders|first=Phillip|last=Heilman|date=October 28, 2013|work=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=May 10, 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://twitter.com/jwat14 Twitter]
- [http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/9652/jaylen-watkins Rotoworld profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140222173150/http://www.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2012&player_id=246 Florida Gators bio]
{{Eagles2014DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl LII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, Jaylen}}
Category:Sportspeople from Cape Coral, Florida
Category:Players of American football from Lee County, Florida
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Florida Gators football players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Houston Texans players