2021 WorldWide Rams Draft Profile: Austin Watkins | UAB | WR

worldwide rams

Ed "Pi Double I" Henderson

Player Bio: Austin Watkins Jr prepped at North Meyers High School in Fort Meyers, FL. Meyers played one season at North Meyers before attending Dodge City Community College. As a freshman, he hauled 38 passes for 376 yards and scored one touchdown. His sophomore year, 24 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns. Watkins Jr. need not receive any offers to Power-5 schools; however, Akron, Bowling Green, Marshall, Southern Miss, and Youngstown State all pursued him before choosing UAB. Watkins Jr is the cousin of current Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
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ACCOLADES
2021 NFL Combine Invite
​2020 Reese's Senior Bowl Participant
2020 All-C-USA First-Team  
2020 All-C-USA Second-Team
2020 Biletnikoff Award Watchlist

AUSTIN WATKINS JR
WIDE RECEIVER
HOMETOWN                      |           CLASS
FORT MEYERS, FL            |           SENIOR (RS) 
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DRAFT YR:  2021              COMBINE INVITE: YES

​HEIGHT                    WEIGHT                    ARMS
 6' 1"               209 lbs            31 ¾"

HANDS                   PROJECTED 40-TIME            DRAFT GRADE
 9 ⅝"                       4.50                      6.14

SCHOOL:  UAB                                              |                    CONFERENCE: C-USA
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COMBINE RESULTS
40 YD DASH     |     BENCH PRESS     |     VERTICAL JUMP     |     BROAD JUMP     |     3 CONE DRILL     |     20 YD SHUTTLE    
​       4.55         |              18                  |             32”                |             116”          |              7.35            |              4.39                      
 
​PRO DAY RESULTS
40 YD DASH     |     BENCH PRESS     |     VERTICAL JUMP     |     BROAD JUMP     |     3 CONE DRILL     |     20 YD SHUTTLE    
​       4.55         |              18                  |             32”                |             116”          |              7.35            |              4.39                     

game film
#6 AusTin watkins jr vs south alabama (2020)

#6 AUSTIN WATKINS JR HIGHLIGHTS (2019)

Strengths: He has the perfect size for an outside NFL wide receiver that will become a defensive back nightmare. He has the built of an outside linebacker that is very physical, strong, and powerful. He is tremendously explosive off the line of scrimmage, has excellent speed that will take the defense lid quickly, and is fearless in catching the ball. His routes are run with perfection and can set up the defender with various moves, nothing far better than his stiffed leg plant and head fake. He reads the defense and sits down in spots where their open areas start and stop moves. He has good, reliable, and strong hands that pluck the ball out of the air. After the catch, he is very elusive, can make a defender miss in the open field and short-area spaces. He tracks the ball ability is impeccable, and he hauls in balls incapable of being caught. 

Weaknesses: His level of competition last season was questionable of the non-elite talent at the cornerback position. He has excellent tangibles for the NFL, but how will he far against higher caliber cornerbacks. He will have the opportunity to answer those questions in Reeses's Senior Bowl coming soon. He does not show an outstanding balance after contact for his size. On another note, two red flags on film, when he is not involved in the play or run plays, he shows no effort and primarily lined up on the offense's left side. He potentially can be a draft sleeper and steal but will have to see how he does in the Senior Bowl and Pro Day.

Draft Projection: 5th - 7th Round

NFL Comparison: Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers)

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