Pat Watkins

Patrick Watkins
No. 9     Edmonton Eskimos
Date of birth: December 18, 1982
Place of birth: Tallahassee, Florida
Career information
Status: Active
CFL status: International
Position(s): DB
Height: 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight: 205 lb (93 kg)
College: Florida State
High school: Lincoln (FL)
Organizations
As player:
2006–2009
2010
2012–2013
2014–Present		 Dallas Cowboys
San Diego Chargers
Toronto Argonauts
Edmonton Eskimos
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star: 2014
CFL West All-Star: 2014

Patrick Watkins (born December 18, 1982) is a professional Canadian football defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos [1] of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Florida State University,[2] and attended Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida.[3] Watkins has also played for the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.

Early years

At Florida State University, he played 49 straight games (23 starts) at both safety and cornerback. As a senior, he had 77 tackles (5 for loss) and 3 interceptions.

Professional career

Pre-draft

At the NFL Scouting Combine in February 2006, Watkins measured in at 6-foot-5 and 211 pounds, while posting a 40-yard-dash times of 4.42 seconds.[4]

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Watkins in the fifth round (53rd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He started nine games in his rookie season, registering 38 tackles, 3 interceptions, 7 passes defensed and became one of the tallest safeties in NFL history. Because he was seen as a liability in pass coverage he lost his starting position. In 2008 he was tried at strong safety, but he didn't demonstrate the tackle technique needed for run support.

Watkins became a core special teams player as a gunner, leading the team in 2007 with 25 tackles. In 2008, he recorded 9 tackles, after missing 8 games due to injury. He was second on the team in 2009 with 18 tackles.[5] After missing the first 3 preseason games with a knee injury, he was released on August 30, 2010.[6]

San Diego Chargers

Watkins was signed by the San Diego Chargers on November 15, 2010, with the intention of improving their special teams. He was placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury on December 16 and wasn't re-signed at the end of the season.

Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

After being a year out of football recovering from his knee injury, he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Argonauts on May 30, 2012.[7] He was named the starter at right cornerback and registered 18 starts. He missed the Eastern Final and the Grey Cup championship game with an ankle injury.

As a rookie he recorded 67 tackles (third on the team), 5 interceptions (tied for first in the CFL), 2 fumble recoveries and received CFL All-Star honors. The next season, he was again named to the CFL All-Star team after having 17 starts, 43 tackles and 5 interceptions.

Edmonton Eskimos (CFL)

On February 12, 2014, he was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent.[8]

References

External links