The former defensive platform of Florida Desmond Watson, a prospect of 6 feet 6 inches and 464 pounds, will sign with his hometown of Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free non -drained.
Watson, who grew up at Plant City about 20 miles east of Tampa, announced the move on social networks. He hoped to be selected during the last rounds of the NFL draft on Saturday. He would have become the heaviest choice in the history of the NFL. But no team has played on the oversized run-stop.
The Bucs, however, took a chance by signing it after the end of the draft. He will obtain $ 50,000 guaranteed, reported athletics, including a signature bonus of $ 20,000.
Watson seduced NFL scouts last month by reappearing 225 pounds and 36 times, which has exceeded any bench performance at this year’s combination. He covered the dashboard with 40 yards in 5.93 seconds and recorded 25 inches in the vertical jump.
He air tight during position exercisesEverything that is surprising since Florida had only four defensive line players in the rotation. But its size and strength – its weight, really – stood out for perhaps the most important day of his professional trip.
“Dez, obviously, it’s a unicorn,” said Gators coach Billy Napier. “You will go the rest of your career and you will never be with a guy who is this stature. And then you get to know Dez. He is extremely intelligent. He has a great sense of humor. He was a great teammate.
“He will have his shot, and I hope he will take advantage of it.”
Watson walking on the ladder was as breathtaking as its bench press. It was listed at 449 pounds last season, against 435 pounds as a junior and 415 pounds in the second year. He had to manage his weight since he took a step on the campus in 2021, when the Florida coach of the time, Dan Mullen, called him “a 385 pound athlete”.
“He has had many nutritionists, many position coaches, many strength coaches, and I think that last year, we probably executed the best we have,” said Napier. “And I thought he was playing his best football in his career. In general, I think he learned a lot about building habits, self -discipline.
“In the end, the guy’s image score would indicate that he will be a huge – this number will always be quite large. It has 6 feet 6 inches and just density, the bone structure. He is just a big man.”
Watson never missed a match in his four seasons in Gainesville. His strengths, however, are rare. He Southern Rague of Florida Brian Battie in 2022 And torn off the Southern Carolina Ball in the back of the back of Jaheim Bell For a forced escape and an escape to return later that year. Watson would probably have marked if the quarter-Arrière Spencer Rattle had missed a tackle in the open field.
Watson, the ultimate space eater, ended his collegial career with 63 plated and 1 1/2 bags. He also wore the ball for a gain of 1 rod and lined up at the back for a few more games against Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl in December.
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