Ben Watson

Position: Tight End  
College: Georgia
Height: 6-3
Weight: 253
Hometown: Rock Hill, S.C.

OVERVIEW

Regarded as one of the premier tight ends in the country after a stellar junior campaign, Watson was hampered most of his final season with a nagging ankle injury … Fine athlete with tremendous quickness, boasting the fastest 40-yard dash (4.44) of any tight end in college football … Very involved in community service (volunteered for the Habitat for Humanity, Mentoring for Athens/Clarke County Leisure Services, Reading Programs at local elementary schools, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Spokesperson, Boys and Girls Club of Athens, Americas Second Harvest Food Bank and the Volunteer Salvation Army Toys-for-Tots programs) … Began his career at Duke University, catching eight passes for 93 yards (11.6 avg.) and a touchdown in 1999 … Sat out the 2000 season under NCAA transfer rules … In 37 games (26 starts) for Georgia, he made 65 catches for 852 yards (13.6 avg.) and six touchdowns … For his collegiate career, he totaled 945 yards and seven scores on 73 receptions (12.9 avg.).

ANALYSIS

Positives: Has a great frame, with very good muscle development, chiseled upper and lower body, long arms, large hands and thick thighs and calves … Consistent receiver who plays with good effort … Has a sudden upfield burst and above-average lateral quickness to reach the second level and gain position in-line … Has outstanding acceleration and speed, showing the burst and strength to easily play off the jam … Will sink his hips and separate out of his cuts downfield … Knows how to use his size to push off the defensive back and settle in the zone … Has good concentration going up for the ball in traffic … Has the speed and size to create mismatches vs. smaller defenders on deep routes (not used much on deep routes, though) … Able to avoid blocks and uncover quickly … Adjusts well on the move and can pick up the linebackers when blocking in space.

Negatives: Ankle injury needs further medical evaluation … Has a great burst off the ball, but his route running needs improvement (will shuffle his feet and keep his base a little too narrow) … Needs to play with a more aggressive nature (strong, but makes passive hand swipes when blocking for the ground game) … Does not play with good leverage when blocking in-line (leans too much into the defender, slipping off blocks) … His quiet nature makes it appear like he's coasting at times … Has great weight-room strength, but it does not always translate to the football field (gets poor hand placement in his blocks and needs to bring his arms up quicker to lock on, steer and sustain).

AGILITY TESTS

4.44 in the 40-yard dash … 535-pound bench press … 570-pound squat … 380-pound power clean … 40-inch vertical jump … 33¾-inch arm length … 10-inch hands … Right-handed … Wears contacts.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) High, playing football for coach Jimmy Wallace … Had 31 receptions for 515 yards and five touchdowns as a senior … Named all-area and all-region during both his junior and senior campaigns … All-state pick as a senior … Elected to play in Shrine Bowl senior year … Helped lead the team to the state championship his junior year … Member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Named Student of the Year as a senior.

PERSONAL

Finance major … Volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity, Mentoring for Athens/Clarke County Leisure Services, Reading Programs at local elementary schools, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Spokesperson, Boys and Girls Club of Athens, Americas Second Harvest Food Bank and Volunteer Salvation Army Toys-for-Tots programs … Born Dec. 17, 1980 … Resides in Rock Hill, S.C.