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Austin Watkins
refer to caption
Watkins with the Cleveland Browns in 2023
Birmingham Stallions
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1998-02-16) February 16, 1998 (age 26)
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:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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

Early life

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

College career

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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 season.[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

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Bench 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 s 1.71 s 2.75 s 18 reps
All values from Pro Day[8][9][10]

San Francisco 49ers

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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

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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

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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

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Watkins signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League (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

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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

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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] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract by the team after the season and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.[25]

Philadelphia Eagles

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On January 18, 2024, Watkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.[26] He was waived on August 27.[27]

Birmingham Stallions (second stint)

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On October 30, 2024, Watkins re-signed with the Birmingham Stallions.[28]

Personal life

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Watkins is the cousin of NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl LIV champion, Sammy Watkins, and Super Bowl LII champion, Jaylen Watkins.[29] His younger cousin, Winston Watkins Jr., is committed to play for the University of Colorado in the class of 2025.[30]

References

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  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. ^ Irvine, Steve (April 4, 2018). "Talented wide receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  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 (August 18, 2022). "Riders release American receiver Austin Watkins Jr". 3DownNation. Retrieved August 19, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  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 December 1, 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 July 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Austin Watkins Reliable Once Again In 2nd Preseason Game". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved August 11, 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. ^ German, Spencer (January 15, 2024). "Browns Begin Offseason By Signing Nine Players To Reserve, Futures Contracts". Sports Illustrated.
  26. ^ "Eagles sign 20 players to Reserve/Futures deals". Eagles Wire. USA Today. January 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "Get your first look at the Eagles' initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "UFL Transactions". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  29. ^ "Austin Watkins Set to Make Name For Himself At UAB". NBC News. July 17, 2020.
  30. ^ "Winston Watkins Jr. Rivals Recruitment Profile". Rivals.com. December 4, 2022.
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