Defensive tackle Desmond Watson made headlines at Florida’s pro day, impressing scouts with his strength and size. At 6-foot-6 and 464 pounds, Watson could become the heaviest player ever drafted.
He showcased his power by completing 36 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, surpassing any bench-press performance at this year’s NFL Combine.
He also ran a 5.93-second 40-yard dash and recorded a 25-inch vertical jump, earning praise from teammates and coaches, as reported by Daily Mail. However, the biggest shock came when he stepped on the scale, weighing significantly more than his listed 449 pounds last season.
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Watson would become the heaviest player ever drafted, surpassing previous record-holders Trent Brown and Daniel Faalele, who weighed in at 380 pounds.
“He´s working to get the weight down. I feel like a team is going to take a shot on him. If I was them, I would. You don´t find too many nose tackles moving like him. Dez is a big, disruptive guy, and he puts in the work,” defensive tackle Cam Jackson said.
Gators coach Billy Napier described him as a “unicorn”.
“You´ll go the rest of your career and you´ll never be around a guy that´s that stature,” he said, before explaining how Watson has managed his weight.
“He´s had numerous nutritionists, position coaches, strength coaches, and I think this past year we probably executed the best we have,” Napier said.
“Ultimately, the guy´s frame score would indicate that he´s going to be a huge – that number´s always going to be pretty big. He´s 6-foot-6 and just the density, the bone structure. It´s just a big man.”
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Watson has never missed a game in his four seasons at Gainesville. His size and strength took center stage, making a strong impression on what could be the most crucial day of his NFL journey.
“He moves way better than anybody thought he would at his size,” fellow defensive tackle Joey Slackman said.
“I don´t see why a team wouldn´t give him a chance. He´s a football player through and through; I would want that guy on my team.”
