Former Florida Gators defensive tackle Desmond Watson, known for his towering 6-foot-6, 464-pound frame, has taken an exciting step in his football career by signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hailing from Plant City, just 20 miles from Tampa, Watson shared the news with enthusiasm on his social media channels. Despite his hopes to be selected during the later rounds of the NFL draft, Watson went undrafted, leaving his NFL dreams hanging in the balance. However, the Buccaneers saw potential in the massive defensive lineman, opting to sign him as an undrafted free agent after the draft concluded. Watson will receive $50,000 in guaranteed money, which includes a $20,000 signing bonus.
Watsonโs performance at a recent NFL scouting event caught the attention of many, particularly when he impressively lifted 225 pounds a staggering 36 timesโsurpassing any other bench-press performance at this yearโs NFL combine. Despite a slower-than-ideal 40-yard dash time of 5.93 seconds and a vertical jump of 25 inches, his strength and size effectively captured the scoutsโ attention, marking it as a pivotal moment in his career journey. While conducting drills, Watson appeared fatigued, a reasonable outcome considering Floridaโs limited rotation of defensive linemen last season. His sheer size and strength, particularly his hefty weight, left a noticeable impression during this critical evaluation.
โDez, without a doubt, is a rare talent,โ stated Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier. โYou might not encounter someone of such grandeur again in your career. Beyond his size, Dez is incredibly intelligent, with a fantastic sense of humor and was an outstanding teammate. He has his opportunity now, and I trust heโll make it count.โ
The spectacle of Watson stepping onto the weighing scale equaled the impact of his impressive bench press. Weighing in at 449 pounds last season, an increase from 435 pounds as a junior and 415 pounds as a sophomore, managing his weight has been an ongoing journey since his college arrival in 2021. Initially dubbed a โ385-pound athleteโ by former Florida coach Dan Mullen, Watson has had his path shaped by numerous nutrition experts, position coaches, and strength trainers. โThis past year, we probably executed our best in managing his weight,โ Napier commented. โHe played his best football to date, learning extensively about self-discipline and building habits along the way.โ
Throughout his four seasons in Gainesville, Watson maintained an impressive record of never missing a game, although notable highlights remained sparse. Among these, he maneuvered South Florida running back Brian Battie with ease in 2022 and snatched the ball from South Carolinaโs Jaheim Bell the same year, resulting in a forced fumble and recovery. Watsonโs imposing presence on the field accumulated a total of 63 tackles and 1ยฝ sacks during his college tenure. He even briefly transitioned to an offensive role, carrying the ball for a 1-yard gain and serving as a fullback against Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl in December.