Sammy Watkins

A unanimous top 50 recruit coming out of South Fort Myers in Florida, Watkins was rated as the top wide receiver in the country by 247Sports.com. The all-time leading receiver in Lee County history with 133 catches for 2,997 yards and 36 career touchdowns. Watkins burst onto the scene as a true freshman, catching 82 passes for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 231 yards on 32 carries and returned 33 kickoffs for 826 yards and one touchdown. Watkins was voted a first team All-American by Pro Football Weekly, the Associated Press and FoxSports.com. While he wasn't as productive in 2012 after serving a two-game suspension to begin the season and with defenses focused on containing him, Watkins still caught 57 passes for 708 yards and three touchdowns. He earned honorable mention All-ACC from the coaches and media, while also returning 13 kickoffs for 257 yards in 10 games. Watkins returned to his elite form in 2013, catching 101 passes for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns. He closed out his prolific Clemson career with a dominating 16-catch performance in the Tigers' dramatic victory over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. A more dynamic athlete than former teammate and Houston Texans' 2013 first round pick DeAndre Hopkins, Watkins caught his passes on a variety of routes, including quick screens to take advantage of his ability to make defenders miss in close quarters, deep passes due to his acceleration and jump balls to highlight his leaping ability and hand-eye coordination. Every fan of the sport knows that there is a difference between timed speed and football speed. Football is rarely a game of straight-lines, making fluidity and general athleticism much more critical than just a 40-yard dash time. In much this same way, some receivers possess a natural ability to pluck the ball, tuck it away and accelerate in one smooth motion that makes them even greater than the sum of their parts. Sammy Watkins is one such receiver.

good patience before bursting to top speed and sets up his routes well - veteran at playing the ball and the defender. dangerous catch-and-go pass catcher and will create yardage on his own, forcing poor angles by defenders. tough and will lower his pads to initiate contact. active blocker and gets the job done in this area.

Versatile experience lining up wide, in the slot and in the backfield - also as an impact return man. Productive career, school-record for career receiving yards.

weaknesses

Only average height with a leaner than ideal build, lacking elite muscle definition or strength. Lacks elite speed and more of a glider. Not overly physical and won't break many tackles.

hands are steady, but he'll have his share of focus drops, especially when he hears footsteps - a few botched returns on his resume. room to improve his reliability on 50/50 passes. minor durability concerns. character needs investigated - arrested in may 2012 on drug-related charges.

COMPARES TO

mix of torrey smith (ravens) and percy harvin (seahawks) - watkins has the size and vertical ability of smith and the acceleration, toughness and multiple gears like harvin.

--Dane Brugler (1/5/13)

sharp footwork off the line of scrimmage to beat press and get vertical with his galloping strides. terrific body control and coordination with smooth hips and joints. good depth in his routes with quick footwork in/out of his breaks, working the soft spots vs. zone.

Above average ball skills and has shown steady improvements in this area over the years. Nice job adjusting his frame and watching the ball into his soft hands, snatching the ball and quickly getting upfield. Good hand size and uses his quick mitts to pluck off-target throws. Tracks well with the hands to highpoint and finish.

strengths

Smooth acceleration and doesn't take long to get up to full speed. Follows blocks well with controlled burst to weave through defenders - multiple gears to win at every level of the field.

Unanimous national top-50 recruit by all the services

#9 player in the nation, #1 wide receiver in the nation, #4 player in Florida by 247Sports.com

#15 player and #3 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com

#39 player and #4 wide receiver in the nation by ESPN.com

#41 player and #5 wide receiver in the nation by Scout.com

#48 player in the nation by MaxPreps.com

#18 player in the nation, #2 player in Florida, and #3 wide receiver in the nation by SuperPrep. MaxPreps.com First-Team All-American

led his team to the AAA state semifinals with 54 catches for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior; added scores on two kickoff returns, two punt returns, and three interception returns

helped South Fort Myers High School to an 11-1 record and the state semifinals

all-time leading receiver in the history of Lee County with 133 catches for 2,997 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career

had eight 100-yard receiving games as a senior

ran the "Wildcat" in a state playoff game when he gained 133 yards on just six carries and scored three touchdowns; also threw a touchdown pass

averaged 11.8 yards per carry in his career. Had 46 catches for 1,192 yards and 14 scores as a junior

had 33 receptions for 537 yards and 10 scores as a sophomore

first-team all-state as a junior and senior

player-of-the-year by Naples Daily News as a senior

played in the U.S. Army All-American game

won the AA state title in the 200m and finished second in the 100m as a senior

fifth in the 100m and sixth in the 200m at the state meet as a junior

coached by Grant Redhead at South Fort Myers High

recruited by Brad Scott.

His brother, Jaylen, was a 2010 U.S. Army All-American and is a member of the Florida football team

majoring in communication studies

born June 14, 1993.