GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Given all that colossal defensive lineman Desmond Watson demonstrated at Florida’s pro day, perhaps his most noteworthy accomplishment was departing the training complex unnoticed.
Somehow, this 6-foot-6, 464-pound professional prospect managed to evade both team personnel and media representatives after he completed his workout for NFL scouts on Thursday.
Watson's teammates and coaches came forward to speak in his favor, praising the statistics he achieved as they attempted to persuade others to select him as the highest-drafted player ever at his weight during next month's NFL draft.
“His agility surpasses everyone’s expectations considering his build,” remarked defensive tackle Joey Slackman. “I can’t understand why a team wouldn’t offer him an opportunity. He’s completely dedicated to the game; I’d love having that kind of player on my squad.”
Watson demonstrated a remarkable feat by lifting 225 pounds an impressive 36 times during his bench press session, surpassing all others at this year’s NFL Combine. His time for the 40-yard dash was clocked at 5.93 seconds, and he achieved a vertical leap of 25 inches.
He appeared out of breath during positional exercises It’s not particularly shocking considering Florida only used four defensive linemen in their rotations. However, his size and strength—primarily reflected in his weight—were very noticeable on what might be the most crucial day of his professional career.
Clearly, Dez is one-of-a-kind," Coach Billy Napier of the Gators stated. "Throughout your entire coaching career, you'll rarely come across someone with his level of prominence. Once you get to know him better, though, you realize he's incredibly smart and has an excellent sense of humor. Plus, he made for a fantastic team player.
He definitely arrived well-prepared today, so he'll have his opportunity, and I'm hopeful he will seize it.
When Watson stood on the scale, it was just as startling as his bench press performance. Last season, he weighed in at 449 pounds, an increase from 435 pounds during his junior year and 415 pounds as a sophomore. Since arriving on campus in 2021, where former Florida coach Dan Mullen referred to him as "a 385-pound athlete," managing his weight has been essential for him.
He has worked with many nutritionists, positional coaches, and strength trainers. I believe that over the past year, we likely implemented everything most effectively," Napier stated. "I felt he played his finest football throughout his entire career. Generally speaking, I think he has gained significant knowledge about forming habits and maintaining self-discipline.
“In the end, his frame score suggests that he will indeed be quite large — this figure tends to remain significant. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall with such density and robust bone structure, he’s clearly a big man.”
During his four years in Gainesville, Watson never missed a game. However, his standout moments were sparse. tackled South Florida's running back Brian Battie in 2022 like a rag doll and yanked the ball from South Carolina's running back Jaheim Bell’s grasp Forced a fumble and subsequently returned it for a touchdown later that same year. If quarterback Spencer Rattler hadn’t failed to make an open-field tackle, Watson likely would have scored.
Watson, who was known as the ultimate space-eater, concluded his college football journey with 63 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Additionally, he had one yard rushing and played fullback for several snaps during the Gasparilla Bowl game against Tulane in December.
Dez is truly a very gifted and athletic individual," stated Florida's defensive back Trikweze Bridges. "Everyone recognizes this. Everyone sees it.
However, might this be sufficient reason for an NFL team to use a draft pick on him? The heaviest players ever selected in the NFL were around 380 pounds: offensive linemen Trent Brown from Florida (drafted in 2015) and Daniel Faalele from Minnesota (selected in 2022). Watson outweighs both of them by almost a hundred pounds.
Defensive tackle Cam Jackson stated, "When Dez showed up here, he truly surprised many of the scouts, particularly with his 40-yard dash performance. I believe he astonished a great number of individuals. Many larger players aren't as agile and quick as Dez."
He’s putting in efforts to reduce his weight. I believe a team will likely show interest in him. If I were part of such a team, I definitely would consider it. Finding a nose tackle with his agility isn’t common. Dez is a large, impactful player who dedicates himself fully.
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