6’1” – 205 lbs. – 4.50e

STATISTICAL PROFILE:

2011: 82 – 1,219 – 12 (14.9)
2012: 57 – 708 – 3 (12.4)

OVERVIEW:

Was named a first-team AP All-American following his freshman season, then earned an honorable mention All-ACC selection from conference coaches as a sophomore in 2012. Has also contributed as a kick returner.

STRENGTHS:

•    Has been highly productive in all three seasons with the Tigers.
•    Versatile and has even lined up in the backfield as a running option.
•    Fairly tall with a thick, muscular build which allows him to release.
•    Not a true burner but is capable of uncovering himself downfield.
•    Has a nice catching radius, good at bringing in passes away from body.
•    Breaks a ton of tackles, making him a threat to gain yards after catch.
•    Does a lot of damage on screens, one of the primary ways he gets the ball.
•    Settles into soft spots in zone coverage rather than overrunning routes.
•    Explosive out of his breaks, gets good separation versus man coverage.
•    Effective runner who has contributed on kick returns and reverses.

WEAKNESSES:

•    Production dropped markedly during disappointing sophomore season.
•    Numbers are inflated due to his high volume of targets on screens.
•    Struggles a bit as a downfield receiver in terms of tracking the ball in air.
•    Drops a few passes more than you’d expect from a projected top pick.
•    Physical style of play may create concerns about his long-term durability.
•    Was suspended for the first two games of 2012 following a drug arrest.

SUMMARY:

A superior prospect to former teammate and 2013 first-round pick DeAndre Hopkins, Watkins burst onto the scene as a freshman and, after a disappointing 2012 season in which his numbers fell across the board, he has rebounded as a junior. At this point, Watkins’ aggressiveness, physicality, and explosiveness with the ball in his hands are his best traits, and he has the physical tools to develop into a true number one option, particularly by improving his concentration and by tracking the ball a little bit better on downfield throws. Not quite the prospect Julio Jones was. RD 1