Markees Watts
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Markees Watts
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 58
| current_team = Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|7}}
| birth_place = Lancaster, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 240
| high_school = Lancaster
(Lancaster, South Carolina)
| college = Charlotte (2018–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 4
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 1.0
| statlabel3 = Interceptions
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Interception yards
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue7 =
| statlabel8 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue8 =
| pfr = WattMa00
}}
Markees Watts (born December 7, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Charlotte 49ers and was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in {{NFL Year|2023}}.
Early life
Watts was born on December 7, 1999, and grew up in Lancaster, South Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4373706/markees-watts|publisher=ESPN|title=Markees Watts}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ninertimes.com/sports/football/forged-by-fire-watts-looks-to-step-up-for-charlotte-defense/article_6bbc2642-011c-11ec-b67a-7b9f0abf0c8a.html|website=Niner Times|title=Forged by Fire: Watts looks to step up for Charlotte defense|author=Foster, Bryson|date=August 31, 2021}} He attended Lancaster High School and earned back-to-back regional defensive player of the year awards as a sophomore and junior, after having compiled 27 sacks during that time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald/130874482/|newspaper=The Rock Hill Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 6, 2017|page=B2|title=Lancaster's Watts has senior season derailed on first play|author=McCormick, Brett}} {{Open access}} He had a season-ending injury on the first play of his senior season. Ranked a two-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the Charlotte 49ers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/markees-watts-was-passed-over-by-every-team-the-edge-rusher-is-blowing-the-bucs-away|publisher=Fox News|title=Markees Watts was passed over by every team. The edge rusher is blowing the Bucs away|author=Auman, Greg|date=August 23, 2023}}
College career
As a true freshman at Charlotte in 2018, Watts played all 12 games and had two tackles.{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/football/roster/markees-watts/9752|publisher=Charlotte 49ers|title=Markees Watts}} The following year, he started all 13 games and placed third in the conference with 9.5 sacks, being named honorable mention All-Conference USA. He played five games, one as a starter, in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. In 2021, he started all 12 games and led them in tackles-for-loss (9.0) and placed second in sacks (4.0).
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 1/2
| weight = 234
| dash = 4.74
| ten split = 1.69
| twenty split = 2.73
| shuttle = 4.42
| cone drill = 7.09
| vertical = 31.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 23
| arm span = 33
| hand span = 9 3/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Markees Watts College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1030233&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
Watts signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/football/roster/markees-watts/9752 Charlotte 49ers bio]
- [https://www.buccaneers.com/team/players-roster/markees-watts/ Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio]
{{Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, Markees}}
Category:Players of American football from South Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from Lancaster, South Carolina
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football outside linebackers