Defensive Lineman Desmond Watson showed his football skills in front of scouts at Florida Gators’ NFL Pro -Day Thursday.
Watson, listed for £ 464, aims to make the NFL story. If a franchise chooses Watson in next month’s draft, he would become the heaviest player prepared in the league story.
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Florida Defensive Lineman Desmond Watson performs an exercise during the school’s NFL Football Pro Day, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Watson did not talk to the media after he went through some exercises in Gainesville on Thursday. But Watson’s teammates and coaches spoke on his behalf and praised the NFL draft of what he was able to achieve during his time with Gators.
“He moves better than anyone thought he would in his size,” said colleague -defensive tackle Joey Slackman. “I don’t see why a team wouldn’t give him a chance. He’s a football player through and through; I want to have that guy on my team.”
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Watson participated in this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, where he pushed 225 pounds 36 times. He also finished the 40-yard line in 5.93 seconds. Watson’s vertical jump reached 25 inches.
Florida Gators Defensive Lineman Desmond Watson participates in an exercise during the spring football exercise at Steve Spurrier Field on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., April 1, 2023. (Matt Pendleton / USA Today Network)
Watson’s size and strength stood out during perhaps the most important day of his professional journey.
“Dez, of course, is a unicorn,” said Florida coach Billy Napier. “You go the rest of your career and you will never be around a guy who is that stature. And then you get to know Dez. He is extremely intelligent. He has a good sense of humor. He was a great teammate.
“Of course, it appeared in good shape today, so he gets his shot and I hope he gets the most out of it.”
Watson was performed at 449 pounds last season, up from 435 pounds as a junior and £ 415 as another. He had to control his weight since he first stepped on campus in 2021, when the then Florida coach Dan Mullen called him “an athlete of 385 pounds.”
Florida Defensive Lineman Desmond Watson removed a ball for a fumble improvement against South Carolina on November 12, 2022. (Doug Angels / USA Today Network)
“He has had several nutritionists, several position coaches, several strength trainers, and I think this past year we have probably executed the best we have,” Napier said. “And I thought he was playing his best football in his career. In general, I think he has learned a lot about habit building, self -discipline.
“In the end, the guy’s framing score would indicate that he is becoming a big one. This number will always be pretty big. He is 6-foot-6 and just the density, the bone structure. It’s just a big man.”
Watson never missed a game in his four seasons in Gainesville. However, his highlights are few and far in between.
He clutched South Florida, who ran back Brian Battie in 2022 and tore the ball out of South Carolina, who ran back Jeim Bell’s hands for a forced fumble and a fumble-backed later that year. Watson would probably have scored if Quarterback Spencer Rattler missed an open field tackle.
Watson completed his college career with 63 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Offensive Linemen Trent Brown and Daniel Faalele are the heaviest NFL players prepared to date. Both players were 380 pounds.
