Menelik Watson

Last updated

Menelik Watson
Menelik Watson.jpg
Watson with the Oakland Raiders in 2014
No. 71, 75
Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1988-12-22) 22 December 1988 (age 35)
Manchester, England
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school: Burnage (Burnage, England)
College:
NFL draft: 2013  / round: 2 / pick: 42
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:34
Games started:24
Player stats at PFR

Menelik Watson (born 22 December 1988) is an English former professional American football offensive tackle. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles.

Contents

Early life

Watson was born into a single-parent family of four brothers and a sister raised on the Anson Estate in Longsight, Greater Manchester, England; his mother, originally from Jamaica, worked as an office cleaner to support the family. [1]

At Burnage High School, he excelled at sport. However, he broke his right ankle in 2001 while playing football in the park, meaning that he could not progress in his hopes of playing for Manchester City. Advised by a doctor not to play any more sports, he eventually joined the school basketball team, where he was spotted in a local tournament by American coach Rob Orellana, who signed him up for the Canarias Basketball Academy based in the Canary Islands. [1]

College career

Watson played college basketball for Marist College, which he attended from 2009 to 2010. [2]

However, after it became clear that even at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) Watson was too short to play power forward, [1] Orellana transferred Watson to Saddleback College where he played American football for the first time. [1] Watson played right tackle, opposite of left tackle Kyle Long. [3] After a single year at Saddleback, he transferred to Florida State University, [4] where he started 12 of 13 games for the Florida State Seminoles football team during the 2012 season, allowing just one quarterback sack. [5]

After his 2012 season, Watson announced his decision to forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. [6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 5 in
(1.96 m)		310 lb
(141 kg)		34 in
(0.86 m)		10+3⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		5.29 s5.01 s8.31 s24.5 in
(0.62 m)		8 ft 7 in
(2.62 m)
All values from NFL combine. [7]

Oakland Raiders

Watson was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft with the 42nd overall pick. [8]

Watson dressed for five games while starting for three of them in his rookie year.

On 28 September 2014, Watson was named Raiders' honorary captain for the International Series game against the Miami Dolphins, leading the Raiders out at Wembley Stadium. [9]

In December 2014, Watson donated his game check to a four-year-old Oakland Raiders fan with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which is estimated to be around $18,000. [10]

On 30 August 2015, Watson suffered a torn Achilles tendon during the third preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. [11] On 1 September 2015, the Raiders placed Watson on injured reserve. [12]

Denver Broncos

On 10 March 2017, Watson signed a three-year contract with the Denver Broncos. [13] He started the first seven games at right tackle before suffering a calf injury and was placed on injured reserve on 8 November 2017. [14]

On 20 August 2018, Watson was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury. [15] He was released on 8 September 2018.

Personal life

Watson has a daughter Orellana—named in honour of his mentor Rob—who lives in Manchester with her mother. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

Dylan Colter Gandy is a former American football center. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Texas Tech.

Samuel Cowart III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning consensus All-American honors. A second-round pick in the 1998 NFL draft, he played professionally for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Cowart was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brodrick Bunkley</span> American football player (born 1983)

Brodrick Bunkley is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. Bunkley also played for the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarvis Moss</span> American football player (born 1984)

Jarvis Jaray Moss is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida, received All-American honors, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team in 2006. Moss was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft, and played professionally for the Broncos and Oakland Raiders.

Benjamin Claxton is a former American football center and guard. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at Ole Miss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornell Green (offensive tackle)</span> American football player (born 1976)

Cornell Duane Green is a former American football offensive tackle. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at the University of Central Florida where he was a four-year starter at offensive tackle. He played high school football at Pinellas Lakewood High.

Stephen Michael Tensi was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. He played professionally for the San Diego Chargers (1965–1966) and the Denver Broncos (1967–1970).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dekoda Watson</span> American football player (born 1988)

Dekoda Watson is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Florida State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Allen (safety)</span> American football player (born 1987)

Nathaniel Ray Allen is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Florida Bulls and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins.

Ras-I Luis Dowling is an American football coach and former player who is the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the William & Mary Tribe. He played professionally as a safety in the National Football League (NFL).

Richard Lee Gordon is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Darby</span> American football player (born 1994)

Ronald Darby is an American professional football cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, and Baltimore Ravens. A world-class sprinter during his high school years, Darby won medals at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Björn Werner</span> German American football player (born 1990)

Björn Werner is a German former professional player of American football who was a defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2012. Wener was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He is co-owner and sports director of the Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football (ELF).

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

Cornellius "Tank" Carradine is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvester Williams (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Sylvester Williams Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Broncos in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he earned All-American honors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Hayden</span> American football player (1990–2023)

Derek Sherrard "D. J." Hayden Jr. was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Houston Cougars and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. Hayden was also a member of the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Washington Football Team / Commanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ja'Wuan James</span> American football player (born 1992)

Ja'Wuan Amir James is an American professional football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. He has also played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelby Harris</span> American football player (born 1991)

Shelby Harris is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois State and was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders, where he spent his first two seasons. After not making a final roster in 2016, Harris played his next five seasons with the Denver Broncos. Harris was traded to the Seahawks in 2022.

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

Jacob Thomas Murphy is a former American football tight end. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He played college football at the University of Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Walker</span> American football player (born 1994)

DeMarcus Walker is an American professional football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ian Shoesmith (25 April 2013). "Menelik Watson swaps inner-city life for the big time". BBC Sport . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  2. ↑ Tally-ho, Watson
  3. ↑ "2013 NFL Draft prospect Menelik Watson bringing British Invasion to NFL - NFL - Dennis Dillon - SI.com". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Former hoopster, boxer Menelik Watson a hidden gem for Florida St.
  5. ↑ Menelik Watson Bio – Florida State University Archived 26 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Menelik Watson's unlikely journey continues
  7. ↑ "NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles – Menelik Watson". NFL.com. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "NFL result, Oakland Raiders 14 Miami Dolphins 38: UK-born Menelik Watson's emotional return spoiled by Miami in London". The Telegraph. 29 September 2014.
  10. ↑ Florio, Mike (21 December 2014). "Menelik Watson donates game check to four-year-old fan". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  11. ↑ Bergman, Jeremy (30 August 2015). "Raiders' Menelik Watson ruptures Achilles tendon". National Football League. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  12. ↑ Durkin, Jimmy (1 September 2015). "Raiders place Watson on injured reserve". Santa Cruz Sentinel . Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  13. ↑ Swanson, Ben (10 March 2017). "Tackle Menelik Watson agrees to terms with Broncos on three-year contract". DenverBroncos.com.
  14. ↑ Mason, Andrew (8 November 2017). "Broncos place Menelik Watson on injured reserve, sign T Cyrus Kouandjio". DenverBroncos.com.
  15. ↑ "Broncos designate Menelik Watson as reserve/injured". DenverBroncos.com. 20 August 2018.
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.