Desmond Watson's story is one of resilience, self-awareness, and the relentless pursuit of a dream. From his days at Armwood High School to his current aspirations with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Watson has battled his weight, facing challenges head-on and striving to reshape his relationship with food. This article delves into Watson's journey, highlighting his struggles, his support system, and his unwavering determination to succeed in the NFL.
Early Years and Weight Struggles
Desmond Watson's weight has been a lifelong battle. Weighing in at 380 pounds coming out of Armwood High School, Watson's struggles with weight continued into his college career at Florida, where he reached 464 pounds at his pro day. He openly acknowledged his addiction to food, recognizing it as a significant obstacle to his athletic potential.
"I've always been an athlete and been able to do athletic things," Watson said. "But the big thing I see as to what was holding me back was dieting. That was a major part of it. I've always been working out and things like that throughout my life."
Acknowledging the Addiction
Watson has approached his eating habits with the seriousness of an addiction, understanding that it requires consistent effort and a commitment to change. "People have taught me to look at it like another addiction," he said. "It's not drugs, but it's addicting, whether that's gaming, drugs, alcohol. I think this is my vice. I'm just trying to get a hold of it. Just like drugs can kill you, this can do the same thing. I'm trying to change my life."
Finding a Support System
Recognizing the need for guidance and accountability, Watson sought a support system to help him navigate his challenges. "I had to get on a support system with people I trusted to hold me accountable." Among those in his corner is Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea, who has also faced weight struggles in the past. Watson looks up to Vea as an inspiration. "A person in my situation I feel like I should be a shadow for a player like Vita," Watson said. "He's a great player in the game; a long-time vet and he's motivated a guy like me."
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Pro Day and Draft Hopes
Despite his weight, Watson's athleticism has always been evident. At his pro day, he recorded a vertical leap of 25 inches and completed 36 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds, showcasing his raw power and explosiveness. While he went undrafted, his potential was enough for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign him as a free agent. The Buccaneers provided him a $20,000 signing bonus and guaranteed $50,000 of his contract. That shows there is some belief that Watson could stick around.
Adjusting Habits
To achieve his goal, Watson knew he needed to change his habits. He started eating better. Breakfasts that used to be grits and pancakes loaded with syrup are now omelets with spinach and tomatoes. He's snacking on peanuts and almonds. Watson also recognized the importance of avoiding temptations, even during simple tasks like filling up his gas tank. "Stopping while driving," Watson said when asked about bad habits he's tried to shed. "My biggest thing is keep going, get to where I need to get. There are stores and a lot of temptations. That's helped me immensely: Don't go inside the gas station. Pay at the pump. Because inside, it's snacks and all types of things like that. Don't pull over. If you're on the highway, stay on the highway until you get where you've got to go."
Mental Fortitude
Watson emphasized the mental aspect of his transformation. "Basically, it was like a little small offseason, trying to focus on creating better habits for myself in order to get back and do the right thing,” Watson said. “It was very mental. It was hard mentally for sure [not practicing during training camp]." He focused on developing a healthier relationship with food, recognizing that it was the key to sustained success. "I had two or three workouts a day - it was usually mostly running. But the biggest thing for me was just getting right and having a better relationship with food mentally. That was the biggest part for me. I’ve always been athletic and able to do athletic things like that."
Joining the Buccaneers
After going undrafted, Watson signed with his hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. This opportunity provided him with access to NFL-level training, nutrition, and coaching, giving him the resources he needs to continue his transformation.
Practice Squad and Development
Upon joining the Buccaneers, Watson was signed to the practice squad. While not immediately elevated to the active roster, he embraced his role, attending meetings, learning the system, and working diligently to improve. "I feel like I’m in a good position,” Watson said. “We [on the practice squad] are in all the meetings and we go through all of the installs, so I’m in a good position."
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A "Little Offseason"
Watson described his time leading up to his return to the team as a "little small offseason," during which he focused on creating better habits and improving his relationship with food. "Basically, it was like a little small offseason, trying to focus on creating better habits for myself in order to get back and do the right thing," Watson said.
Learning from Vita Vea
Watson sees the potential to learn from Vita Vea, both on and off the field. He recognizes Vea's success as a large and athletic defensive tackle and seeks to emulate his work ethic and techniques. "I let [Vea] know he was an inspiration of mine, someone I try to model my game after," Watson said. He also stated, “A person in my situation I feel like I should be a shadow for a player like Vita,” Watson said. “He’s a great player in the game; a long-time vet and he’s motivated a guy like me."
Impact on the Team
Even while on the practice squad, Watson made a positive impact on the team. During preparations for a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Watson's quickness and technique impressed coaches. "[He displayed] good quickness, a lot of technique," Bowles said. "It's just a matter of getting the system down, but he gave us a great look [prior to the Eagles game]."
High School Accolades
Evan Davis, Watson's high school coach at Armwood High in Seffner, Florida, raved about his athletic ability. "He has athletic ability I can't even explain," Davis said. He recalled Watson performing overhead squats with 185 pounds, showcasing his exceptional flexibility and strength.
Family Support
Watson comes from a family of athletes who have provided unwavering support throughout his journey. His mother was a sprinter, and his older brother, Darrian McNeal, played receiver at Oregon. He wore No. 21 at Florida because it was the number worn by his younger brother, Dyson, who suffered a stroke at age 5.
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Overcoming Setbacks
Watson doesn't blame the Gators for his weight issues, saying they tried to give him many outlets and opportunities to get in better shape, and he didn't do a good job of taking advantage, staying focused and bringing about real change.
A Promising Future
Despite the challenges he has faced, Desmond Watson remains optimistic about his future. He recognizes the unique opportunity he has been given and is determined to make the most of it. "I feel blessed," Watson said. "I feel like I'm in a position a lot of people don't get to say that they're in. I get a chance to learn and be better - even outside of football I get to learn a lot of things that have helped me in life."
A Unique Athlete
Gators coach Billy Napier once called him "a unicorn," the kind of player you might see once in an entire coaching career. And while his weight got the headlines at his pro day last week, he put up other impressive numbers as well.
Latest Headlines
Bucs rookie defensive tackle Desmond Watson is all smiles right now. “I’m proud of it,” Watson said of his weight loss, speaking to the media for the first time since being signed to the practice squad. “It’s a good number - obviously good enough to be signed back. I don’t want to say a specific number, but it’s been enough to obviously get signed back. Not practicing with the team during training camp was very hard for Watson mentally. “That was the longest I’ve had without practicing against people since I was like seven years old,” Watson said. “That was tough. It was definitely an adjustment, but it feels great to practice now.
Current Status
As of Week 4, Watson has yet to be elevated for a game during the season since his return to the team prior to the Eagles game.