Watson drafted by Tampa Bay in fifth round
Justin Watson has made a career in football by surprising people with his drive and determination.
He went from being a raw freshman on South Fayette’s football team who struggled to catch the football to a senior leader on the Lions’ state championship team in 2013.
When no school offered a Division I scholarship because coaches questioned his ability, Watson entered the University of Pennsylvania and left not only with a degree from the Wharton School of Business but nearly every pass receiving record in school history.
On Saturday, the 6-3 Watson pulled off arguably his most impressive feat when the wide receiver who didn’t receive a Division I scholarship became a fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL draft in Dallas Saturday.
“We were all watching the draft on TV and we thought he would have a chance to go from the fifth round on up,” said Joe Rossi, South Fayette’s football coach. “When they announced his name, we all jumped off the couch.”
Watson is the first player from South Fayette drafted into the NFL since Jonathan Hayes was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 1985 draft. Hayes played until 1996 and is now a tight ends coach with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Watson is the first Penn player to be drafted since offensive lineman Jeff Hatch was taken in the third round by the New York Giants in 2002. He left Penn as the leader in career receptions (286), receiving yards (3,777), receiving touchdowns (33), and all-purpose yards (4,116), and single-season records for receptions (81), receiving yards (1,083), and receiving touchdowns (14).
Those numbers didn’t get him an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. It did get him into the Senior Bowl, where the future wide receivers coach for Tampa Bay, Skyler Fulton, coached Watson on special teams.
“No wanted to play special teams in the Senior Bowl, so Justin said he would do it,” Rossi said. “It made an impression on (Fulton).”
Watson joins a Tampa Bay receivers group that is led by Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. Watson was the only wide receiver taken by Tampa Bay in this draft.
“He’s already got his jersey number, 17,” said Rossi. “I’m sure those jersey sales in South Fayette will go up.”
Efforts to reach Watson were unsuccessful.