Eric Watts
_(cropped)_Eric_Watts.jpg) Watts with UConn in 2022 | |||||
| Profile | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive end | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | October 1, 2000 Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Listed weight | 277 lb (126 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Sumter | ||||
| College | UConn (2019–2023) | ||||
| NFL draft | 2024: undrafted | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||
| |||||
Eric Watts (born October 1, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football for the UConn Huskies.
Early life
[edit]From Sumter, South Carolina, Watts attended Sumter High School where he played football and basketball, being selected to the Offense–Defense All-American Bowl in football while helping the team win county and region championships.[1] As a senior, he had 8 1/2 sacks while helping Sumter win ten straight games.[2] He committed to play college football for the UConn Huskies.[3]
College career
[edit]Watts began seeing extended action at UConn as a true freshman in 2019.[4] He appeared in all 12 games that year and totaled 30 tackles.[5] The team's 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, Watts played 10 games while accumulating 39 tackles.[6] He appeared in 13 games in the 2022 season and posted 49 tackles while leading the team in both tackles-for-loss (10) and sacks (7.0), additionally blocking two kicks and having two forced fumbles.[1] He had 34 tackles and two sacks as a senior in 2023 and was invited to participate at the 2024 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.[7][8]
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 5+5⁄8 in (1.97 m) | 274 lb (124 kg) | 35+3⁄4 in (0.91 m) | 9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) | 7 ft 0+3⁄8 in (2.14 m) | 4.67 s | 1.65 s | 2.73 s | 4.38 s | 7.48 s | 36.5 in (0.93 m) | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) | 21 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10] | ||||||||||||
Watts signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024.[11] Watts made the Jets' 2024 53 man roster out of training camp.
On August 26, 2025, Watts was waived by the Jets as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[12][13] On December 10, he was signed to the active roster.[14]
Watts was waived with an injury settlement by the Jets on August 14, 2026.[15][16]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Eric Watts". UConn Huskies.
- ↑ Fuller, Jim (March 7, 2019). "Speedy Watts, DeVaughn looking to thrive in new UConn scheme". New Haven Register.
- ↑ Brunson, Dennis (December 18, 2018). "Sumter High's Watts is UConn bound". The Sumter Item.
- ↑ Putterman, Alex (August 12, 2019). "Freshman Eric Watts settling into pass-rush role, plus other UConn football notes". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ Arruda, Joe (August 5, 2023). "'Working through the dirt,' UConn defensive lineman Eric Watts sets sights high for senior season". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ Adamec, Carl (August 7, 2023). "UConn football's Eric Watts has been loyal, now senior ready to lead Huskies, chase NFL dreams". CTInsider.com.
- ↑ "Eric Watts College Stats". Sports-Reference.com.
- ↑ Dexter, CJ (February 14, 2024). "Huskies in the Pros: Haynes and Watts invited to combine, Bouknight released by Charlotte". The Daily Campus.
- ↑ "Eric Watts Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Eric Watts College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ Greenberg, Ethan; Pullano, John (May 3, 2024). "Jets Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents". NewYorkJets.com.
- ↑ Allen, Eric; Weir, Susanna. "Jets Sign 14 Players to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ↑ Lange, Randy; Allen, Eric. "Final Cuts Jets Move 22 Players to Reduce Active Roster to 53 Players". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ↑ Weir, Susan (December 10, 2025). "Jets Sign DL Eric Watts to Active Roster and Place DL Tyler Baron on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ↑ Allen, Eric (August 5, 2026). "Jets Sign TE Connor Hulstein & DL Patrick Jenkins". NewYorkJets.com.
- ↑ "Eric Watts: Cut loose by New York". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 15, 2026.