Danny Watkins

Last updated

Danny Watkins
No. 63, 62
Position: Offensive guard
Personal information
Born: (1984-11-06) November 6, 1984 (age 39)
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school: West Kelowna (BC) Mt. Boucherie
College:
NFL draft: 2011  / round: 1 / pick: 23
CFL draft: 2010  / round: 1 / pick: 4
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:24
Games started:18
Fumble recoveries:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Danny William Watkins (born November 6, 1984) is a Canadian former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL).

Contents

Early life

Watkins' father, Todd, is a road grader. In high school, Watkins played rugby and hockey as a defenseman, but became the "designated goon" because of his size. [1] [2] He became a junior firefighter when he was 16 after visiting the West Kelowna Fire and Rescue squad. [2] [3]

College career

Butte College

Watkins enrolled at Butte College to study fire sciences in order to become a firefighter after a year as a junior firefighter. The school's football coach recruited him to play for their football team, at the age of 22 it was the first time Watkins had ever played football. He played football at Butte from 2007−2008, helping them to a perfect 11−0 record in 2008. Butte coaches sent game tape of his to Division I-A schools, and California, Hawaii, and Baylor were the schools interested. [1]

Baylor University

Watkins transferred to Baylor University, [4] after head coach Art Briles was impressed with his game tape at Butte. [1] Watkins started at left offensive tackle as a junior in 2009 for the Bears. He replaced Jason Smith, who was drafted second overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2009 NFL draft. [2]

He was selected fourth overall by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in the 2010 CFL Draft, but played out his last year at Baylor University, the 2010 season. [5]

Professional career

Pre-draft

Prior to the 2011 NFL draft, Watkins was projected to be drafted in the first or second round. [6] He hired former NFL offensive lineman Joe Panos as his agent. [7]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in
(1.91 m)		310 lb
(141 kg)		34+1⁄4 in
(0.87 m)		10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		5.40 s1.82 s2.97 s4.62 s7.61 s26 in
(0.66 m)		7 ft 8 in
(2.34 m)		29 reps
All values from 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. [8] [6]

Watkins invited five of his friends from the West Kelowna fire department to join him at the draft. On the morning of the draft, Watkins and his firefighter friends visited a New York City firehouse that lost several members during the September 11 attacks. [9]

Philadelphia Eagles

Watkins was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2011 NFL draft. [10] He became the oldest first-round selection since 1971 at the age of 26. He was the first Canadian to be drafted in the first rounds of both the CFL and NFL drafts since Mike Schad in 1986. [2] He was projected to start as a rookie at right offensive guard [1] and signed a four-year contract worth $7.9 million on August 1. [11] However, the Eagles claimed Kyle DeVan off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts before the start of the season and Watkins was benched. Watkins was inactive for the first two weeks of the season and was active for a week three game against the New York Giants, but did not play. He was inactive again in week four, but was promoted to the starting right guard on October 5, due to the ineffectiveness of DeVan through the first four games of the season. [12] Watkins was released on August 31, 2013. [13] Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said the "innate toughness" Watkins showed at Baylor never showed up in the NFL. [14]

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins signed Watkins to a one-year contract on September 3, 2013, after waiving backup lineman Josh Samuda. [15]

Retirement

In 2014, it was reported that Watkins had left the NFL and was a firefighter in Frisco, Texas. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Peters</span> American football player (born 1982)

Jason Raynard Peters is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was signed as a tight end by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent after the 2004 NFL draft. He was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and spent the next twelve seasons playing for them, before joining the Chicago Bears in 2021, the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, and the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. He is currently the oldest active NFL player.

Paul Serafin Dickson was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football for Baylor University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Gibson</span> American football player (born 1987)

Brandon Lewis Gibson is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Washington State and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Smith (American football)</span> American football player (born 1986)

Jason Smith is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the second overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football for the Baylor Bears. As a professional, he was a member of the Rams, the New York Jets, and the New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Griffin III</span> American football player (born 1990)

Robert Lee Griffin III, nicknamed RGIII or RG3, is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, most notably with the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Baylor Bears, winning the Heisman Trophy as a senior, and was selected second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2012 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. D. Walton</span> American football player (born 1987)

Justin Daniel Walton is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft and was also a member of the Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers. He played college football for the Baylor Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefen Wisniewski</span> American football player (born 1989)

Stefen David Wisniewski is an American former professional football player who was a guard and center. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft out of Penn State. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ryan Richard Grigson is an American football executive who is the senior vice president of player personnel for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). From 2012 to 2016, he served as the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Kelce</span> American football player (born 1987)

Jason Daniel Kelce is an American former professional football center who spent his entire 13-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Kelce played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl LII, was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, and six-time first-team All-Pro selection. Kelce is often regarded as one of the greatest centers in NFL history.

Thomas Wayne Brown is an American former professional football defensive lineman who played for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Baylor before he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the eleventh round of the 1980 NFL draft. He played for one season for the Eagles (1980) and two seasons for the Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Blake</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1985)

Philip Anthony Blake is a Canadian professional football offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears. He has also been a member of the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Montreal Alouettes, and Toronto Argonauts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyril Richardson</span> American football player (born 1990)

Cyril Joseph Richardson is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2003. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer Drango</span> American football player (born 1992)

Spencer Joseph Drango is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears. A Freshman All-American in 2012, Drango was considered one of the best offensive tackles in his class. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Shelton</span> American football player (born 1993)

Daniel Saileupumoni Shelton is an American professional football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the Washington Huskies.

Buford Needham "Butch" Allison was a professional gridiron football offensive lineman who played for the Baltimore Colts and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) and the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Missouri. Allison was drafted in both the seventh round of the 1966 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and the second round of the 1966 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts, who he played the 1966 NFL season with. He played for both the New Orleans Saints and Edmonton Eskimos in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davion Taylor</span> American gridiron football player (born 1998)

Davion Taylor American professional football linebacker for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quez Watkins</span> American football player (born 1998)

Terrance "Quez" Watkins is an American professional football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southern Miss and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. He signed with Pittsburgh in 2024.

Danny Gray is an American professional football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Blinn and SMU before being drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Jalen Terrell Woods is an American professional football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Baylor and was drafted in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siaki Ika</span> American football player (born 2000)

Siaki Ika is an American professional football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU, where he was a member of the team that won the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship, before transferring to Baylor the following season.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McLane, Jeff (April 30, 2011). "'Tough guy' Watkins brings 'tude to the line". The Philadelphia Inquirer . pp.  1, 2 . Retrieved May 24, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Beamish, Mike (April 30, 2011). "Canadian ready to put out pass rusher". Montreal Gazette . pp.  1, 2 . Retrieved May 24, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Patton, Steve (May 1, 2011). "Hockey history helps Watkins". Reading Eagle . Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Canadian jumps from fire to NFL". CBC.ca. January 26, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  5. ↑ "BC selects Danny Watkins with 4th pick". Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Danny Watkins, DS #2 OG, Baylor". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  7. ↑ Lefko, Perry (April 7, 2011). "Watkins draft elite". sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on April 9, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Danny Watkins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ Masters, Mark. "Watkins still reeling from NFL draft". The National Post . Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  10. ↑ Kaplan, Emily (December 17, 2014). "Finding Danny Watkins". SI.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ Florio, Mike (August 1, 2011). "Danny Watkins agrees to terms with Eagles". profootballtalk.com . Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  12. ↑ Mosher, Geoff (October 5, 2011). "Source: Eagles to start first-round pick Watkins". delawareonline.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  13. ↑ Sheridan, Phil (August 31, 2013). "Eagles release Danny Watkins". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  14. ↑ Alper, Josh (September 1, 2013). "Howie Roseman on Danny Watkins: The toughness never materialized". NBCSports.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  15. ↑ Beasley, Adam H. (September 4, 2013). "Former first-round pick Danny Watkins gets second chance with Miami Dolphins". miamiherald.com. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  16. ↑ Lombardo, Matt (August 26, 2014). "Former Eagles first rounder Danny Watkins leaves NFL, returns to firefighting". NJ.com . Retrieved September 21, 2014.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.