Chris Watt

Watt was a highly-recruited five-star recruit out of high school, choosing Notre Dame over offers from most top programs in the country. After redshirting in 2009 and serving as a reserve in 2010, he earned the starting left guard job as a sophomore and started 34 straight before his knee issues sidelined him for a few games as a senior in 2013. Watt is a strong run defender with physical hands and keeps his feet grinding at the point of attack to create movement. He isn't the most agile in space and lacks ideal reflex quickness in pass pro - very average physical tools. Watt plays with a nasty temperament and gets the most out of his ability with his smarts, toughness and overall football character. His knee injuries late in his senior season create some durability concerns, despite not needing surgery - when will he be able to play as a rookie? Watt has his limitations that probably keep him from ever being an every-day starter, but he should provide quality depth at any of the three interior positions in the NFL.

extends well to keep rushers from his body and does a nice job in space to latch-and-drive. tough competitor and leaves it all out on the field and is considered a high effort player by his coaches and teammates. three-year starter with 37 career starts, all at left guard.

WEAKNESSES

not the most natural in space with average footwork and needs to be quicker and more consistent when pulling or at the second level. will struggle to mirror at times with so-so upper body and lower body reflexes - not the most reliable on an island. sluggish at times working through the mud and needs to improve his reaction quickness.

Needs to be more aggressive with his hands in pass protection and his placement isn't a strength, struggling to properly control his limb movements. A few too many false start penalties on his resume. Some concerns with his right knee after a torn PCL (Oct. 2013), missing one game, then a first-degree sprain of the MCL (Nov. 2013) to the same knee, keeping him out of the Bowl Game and Senior Bowl - neither injury requires surgery.

strengths

Wide-bodied with a solid trunk. Balanced athlete with decent movement skills. Sinks and anchors well to absorb contact at the point of attack and hold his ground. Physical and won't shy from contact with powerful hands to redirect rushers and gain positioning - quick punch and uses his mitts in both pass protection and run blocking.

compares to

Jim Cordle, OG, New York Giants - Like Cordle, Watt is able to create run lanes with his pop at the point of attack and ability to create movement with his energy and toughness.

Participated in 2009 U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio

named to USA Today All-American team

placed on Parade All-America team following senior year

honored as the top high school recruit in the Midwest in the Detroit Free Press' Best in the Midwest rankings

named to Tom Lemming's 26-man All-America team

ranked 31st-best overall player and top overall offensive guard according to Scout.com

considered 35th-best player nationally and the fifth-best offensive lineman by the Sporting News

rated as 68th-best overall prospect in the SI.com/TAKKLE Top 200

ranked as 67th-best overall prospect in country according to Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports

Rivals.com ranks him as 77th-best overall player and second-best offensive guard

selected first-team All-American by MaxPreps in 2008

ranked second in Illinois postseason Top 30 according to Rivals.com

named to SuperPrep All-American team as the third-best overall offensive lineman in the country. Selected as an Elite 50 player, 40th overall, by SuperPrep

selected first-team all-state as senior by Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, Chicago Tribune and Champaign News-Gazette

named 2008-09 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year

selected to Chicago Sun-Times' all-area team as a senior

named special mention all-state as junior by Chicago Tribune and Champaign News-Gazette

Arlington Heights Daily Herald named Watt captain of 2008 all-area football team for DuPage County

named West Suburban Silver Conference Most Valuable Player in 2008

recorded 118 pancake blocks as a junior and 107 as a senior despite missing two games due to an ankle sprain in 2008

led Glenbard West High School to 12-1 record in 2008

played three different positions along offensive line and never surrendered a sack

brother, Kevin, played defensive end at Northwestern (2007-11)

played for head coach Chad Hetlet at Glenbard West High School.

Son of Mary Pat and Rich Watt

graduated on May 19, 2013 from the Mendoza College of Business with a degree in marketing

enrolled as an unclassified graduate student.