Austin Watkins

Austin Watkins Jr. (born February 16, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UAB. Watkins has been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Memphis Showboats, and Birmingham Stallions.

Austin Watkins
refer to caption
Watkins with the Cleveland Browns in 2023
No. 80 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1998-02-16) February 16, 1998
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:North Fort Myers (FL)
College:UAB
Undrafted:2021
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Watkins grew up in Fort Myers, Florida, and attended North Fort Myers High School.[1]

College career

Watkins began his collegiate career at Dodge City Community College. As a freshman, he caught 38 passes for 376 yards and one touchdown and committed to transfer to UAB after his sophomore.[2] Watkins had 24 receptions for 330 yards with four touchdowns as a sophomore.[3]

Watkins played in four games in his first season with the Blazers before opting to redshirt the year.[4] He became a starter going into his redshirt junior season was named second-team All-Conference USA after catching 57 passes for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns.[5][6] As a redshirt senior, Watkins was named first-team All-Conference USA after finishing the season with 34 receptions for 468 yards with three touchdowns.[7]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitBench press
6 ft 1+1⁄2 in
(1.87 m)		 209 lb
(95 kg)		 31 in
(0.79 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.53 s1.71 s2.75 s18 reps
All values from Pro Day[8][9][10]

San Francisco 49ers

Watkins signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2021.[11] He was waived/injured on August 17, 2021 and placed on injured reserve.[12] He was released on August 25. He was re-signed to the 49ers practice squad on November 3, 2021.[13] He was released on November 23.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On January 31, 2022, Watkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[14] He was waived on May 16.[15]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Watkins signed with Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on August 7, 2022. He was released by the Riders on August 18, 2022, having spent the entirety of his tenure with the club on the practice roster.[16]

Memphis Showboats

Watkins signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL on October 22, 2022.[17] Watkins and all other Tampa Bay Bandits players were all transferred to the Memphis Showboats after it was announced that the Bandits were taking a hiatus and that the Showboats were joining the league.[18]

Birmingham Stallions

Watkins was traded to the Birmingham Stallions on January 11, 2023.[19] He was released from his contract on July 22, 2023, to sign with an NFL team.[20]

Cleveland Browns

On July 22, 2023, Watkins signed with the Cleveland Browns.[21] Watkins led the Browns in receiving yards in each of their first three preseason games in 2023.[22] He was waived on August 29, 2023 and re-signed to the practice squad.[23][24]

Personal life

Watkins is the cousin of NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl LIV champion, Sammy Watkins, and Super Bowl LII champion, Jaylen Watkins.[25] His younger cousin, Winston Watkins Jr., is committed to play for the University of Colorado in the class of 2025.[26]

References
  1. "NFL Draft up next for Austin Watkins Jr". NBC2 News. April 24, 2021.
  2. Champlin, Drew (July 14, 2017). "JUCO receiver Austin Watkins commits to UAB". AL.com.
  3. "Talented wide receiver". UAB.
  4. "'I can get through anything': Hardships fortify Austin Watkins on his path to the NFL". The News-Press. April 27, 2021.
  5. "UAB WR, North Fort Myers product Austin Watkins seeks to turn NFL scout heads this season". The News-Press. September 9, 2020.
  6. Dudley, Evan (March 2, 2020). "'Hating the time off': UAB's Austin Watkins enters spring with receiving record on mind". AL.com.
  7. Stephenson, Creg (November 12, 2020). "UAB's Austin Watkins accepts Senior Bowl invitation". AL.com.
  8. "Austin Watkins Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  9. "2021 NFL Draft Scout Austin Watkins Jr. College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  10. "Austin Watkins 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  11. "49ers Sign 10 Rookies". 49ers.com. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  12. "49ers Make a Series of Roster Moves". 49ers.com. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  13. "49ers Open Practice Windows for Gould, Kittle and Wilson Jr". 49ers.com. November 3, 2021.
  14. Smith, Scott (January 31, 2022). "Bucs Sign Five More to Futures Contracts". Buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  15. Smith, Scott (May 16, 2022). "Three Tryout Players Earn Contracts with Buccaneers". Buccaneers.com.
  16. 3Down Staff (2022-08-18). "Riders release American receiver Austin Watkins Jr". 3DownNation. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  17. @USFLBandits (October 22, 2022). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
  18. Knight, Joey. "Tampa Bay Bandits won't play in United States Football League in 2023". tampabay.com. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  19. @USFLStallions (January 11, 2023). "Transfer of playing rights" (Tweet). Retrieved January 11, 2023 – via Twitter.
  20. @USFLStallions (July 22, 2023). "Contract Terminated / Signing with NFL Team" (Tweet). Retrieved July 23, 2023 – via Twitter.
  21. "Browns sign Austin Watkins Jr". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  22. "Austin Watkins Reliable Once Again In 2nd Preseason Game". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  23. "Browns reduce roster to 53". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 29, 2023.
  24. "Browns claim CB Kahlef Hailassie and add 15 to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 30, 2023.
  25. "Austin Watkins Set to Make Name For Himself At UAB". NBC News. July 17, 2020.
  26. "Winston Watkins Jr. Rivals Recruitment Profile". Rivals.com. December 4, 2022.
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