Desmond Watson would make the story of the NFL as the heaviest perspective to be taken in the draft if selected next week in Green Bay.
But the product of Florida Gators knows that 464 pounds is not conducive to a long career in the NFL, even with 6 feet and 6 inches.
Fox Sports asked Watson what he was doing to throw weight before entering the league, and knows where to start.
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Florida’s defensive line, Desmond Watson, performs a drill during the School NFL Professional Football Day on March 27, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raux)
“Stop while driving,” Watson replied. “The most important thing is to move on, get where I need to get. There are stores and many temptations. That has helped me immensely. Do not enter the service station. Pay in the pump. Because, inside, they are sandwiches and all kinds of things like that. Do not stop. If you are on the road, stay on the road until you are going to go.”
Watson caught the attention when he walked to the campus in Gainesville at 385 pounds in 2021. Four years later, he has about 80 pounds heavier than the current heavy player of the NFL, the Linker of the Baltimore Ravens, Daniel Faalele, which appeared in 380 pounds last season.
Weight loss has been mentioned with the Gattors program, but Watson has continued to win since he stepped on the campus.
The NFL Desmond Watson prospect seeks to be the heaviest player recruited in the history of the league
“It has been like my same problem, not a problem, but my very concern throughout the university,” he said. “I am becoming deeper, getting a better understanding of the things I need to succeed at the next level. It has been interesting. I have learned a lot about me in this process.”
Watson said people in his life have taught him to treat his eating habits as “another addiction.”
The Florida defensive line, Desmond Watson (21), addresses the Tulane Wave Wave Ty Thompson (7) field during the first half at the Raymond James stadium in Tampa, Florida, December 20, 2024, in 2024 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. (Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun)
And he knows how serious it can be.
“They are not drugs, but it is addictive, be it games, drugs, alcohol. I think this is my vice. I’m just trying to understand it. Like drugs can kill you, this can do the same. I am trying to change my life.”
While Watson’s weight can be a cause of concern for NFL teams, the potential is certainly there for the defensive Tackle of the Gators who banked 225 pounds 36 times. It would have been the highest total of repetitions in the NFL exploration harvester if Watson had been invited.
The Florida defensive line, Desmond Watson, walks in the field during Gator Walk in the Orange and Blue Spring Soccer match in Steve Spurrier Field at the Ben Hill Griffin stadium in Gainesville, Florida, April 13, 2024. (Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun)
Instead, he showed his power and other skills to the NFL teams on the Pro day, which included a 25 -inch vertical jump and a 40 -yard race of 5.93 seconds.
If it is recruited, Watson is expected to go in the posterior rounds in Green Bay.
