Austin

Watkins Jr.

Watkins led all Browns receivers in receiving yards this preseason, posting a line of 16-257-2 on 27 targets. The former USFL receiver may have played well enough to land back on the Browns’ practice squad but was unable to crack a rather deep receiver room that includes rookie third-round pick Cedric Tillman.

Watkins entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers but never cracked the active roster. He then signed a reserves/futures contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but again failed to make the active roster. His first real breakthrough in professional football came earlier this season with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL. The offseason addition of Elijah Moore and selection of rookie Cedric Tillman in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft by the Browns means Watkins will again be fighting to crack the active roster, likely requiring a standout performance during preseason.

Watkins checks in at 6-foot-1, 209 pounds and didn’t have the kind of impact pro day performance he was hoping for, rating in the 28th percentile for his 4.55 second 40-time. His vertical of 32" (eighth percentile), broad jump of 116" (17th), 4.39 second short shuttle (19th) and 7.35 second 3-cone (third) were all woeful marks. Watkins led the nation in deep targets in 2019, as the UAB wideout is a menace down the field, averaging just over 19 yards per reception on 57 catches. He has exceptional hands and is a good route runner, but these pro day metrics do not bode well for his NFL projections since he is going to have a hard time creating downfield separation running a 4.55 40-yard dash. Watkins is firmly in the Day 3 conversation and should come off the board in the sixth round range.

A second team all-Conference USA performer in 2019, Watkins (6'3/210) appeared in each of UAB’s seven games and caught 34 passes for 468 yards and three touchdowns. With regard to UAB’s schedule, due to COVID-19 issues either within its own program or its opposition the team has not played since Halloween. That likely factored into Watkins’ decision to move on and prepare for the upcoming draft, and he has already accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Watkins is projected to be a Day 3 selection at this point in the pre-draft process.

2020 has been a rocky journey for the Blazers, but in 2019, the passing offense was surprisingly dangerous in large part because of Watkins. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder is a menace down the field, averaging just over 19 yards per reception on 57 catches last season. He also pulled in six touchdowns. Even when Watkins was not catching passes himself, the raw speed he provides to an offense is enough to help open things up underneath for other receivers in the route combination. With his size and speed, expect interest in Watkins, currently a Day 3 player, to rise throughout the process.

Watkins (6'3/210) has been UAB’s best option in the passing game regardless of which quarterback is in the game, be it Bryson Lucero or Tyler Johnston III. The redshirt senior was the only Blazer to catch multiple passes on the day, and for the season he’s now up to 34 receptions, 468 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Watkins leads UAB in all three statistical categories, and he’ll look to improve upon those numbers November 14 when UAB hosts North Texas.

Watkins (6'3/210) was on the receiving end of 12 passes as QB Bryson Lucero locked on to his top playmaking wideout all game long. His touchdown came on a two-yard red-zone strike at the end of the first half to put UAB up 24-14. The redshirt senior currently has 26 receptions for 356 yards and three touchdowns on the year.

“Watkins has quick feet,” Hodgkinson further notes, “which enable him to create separation and make plays after the catch.” The 6-foot-3, 210-pound wideout will have a spotlight opportunity on Thursday evening, when UAB kicks off its 2020 campaign against Central Arkansas. Last season, Hodgkinson logged a 57-1092-6 receiving line. He’ll need a strong showing this coming season if he is to realistically make inroads toward an NFL Draft selection.

Once again, Watkins (6'3/205) carried the burden for UAB’s receiving corps. After leading the team in receptions and yards this season, Watkins dazzled in the bowl game with 10 catches while no other player on the team caught more than four passes. This performance put Watkins over 1,000 yards on the season, which is incredible considering he had 82 career yards beforehand. Look for QB Tyler Johnston and Watkins to build on their electric chemistry in 2020.

Watkins (6'3/205) has been UAB’s top option in the passing game this season, and his presence can open things up for the team’s other wide receivers. For the season he’s caught 42 passes for 883 yards and five touchdowns, leading UAB in both receptions and receiving yards. Watkins has a shot at surpassing the 1,000-yard mark next weekend when the Blazers visit North Texas, as the Mean Green have struggled for the majority of the season.