Sammy Watkins (American football)
Encyclopedia
Sammy Watkins is an American football
wide receiver
for the Clemson Tigers
. He leads the nation in reception yards per game, all-purpose yards and touchdowns for freshmen in 2011.
in Fort Myers, Florida
. He set Lee County, Florida
records with 133 catches for 2,997 yards and 36 touchdowns during his career. In his senior year, Watkins helped South Fort Myers reach the AAA state semifinals with 54 catches for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Watkins was a highly touted recruit before the 2011 college football season. He was rated the third-best wide receiver
prospect in the nation by Rivals.com
and fifth best by Scout.com
.
in November 2010. He was also recruited by Florida State
but decided to go to a school outside Florida
to get immediate playing time.
Despite not taking part in spring practice, Watkins made an immediate impact for Clemson in his freshman season in 2011
. He caught 28 passes for 433 yards and six touchdowns in his first four games, including 10 catches, 155 yards and two TDs against defending national champions Auburn
. He broke 11 school freshman records seven games into the season, including total all-purpose yards previously held by C. J. Spiller
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. He leads the nation in reception yards per game, all-purpose yards and touchdowns for freshmen in 2011.
High school
Watkins attended South Fort Myers High SchoolSouth fort myers high school
South Fort Myers High School is a secondary school located in Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida. South Fort Myers High School is a high school in the South Zone specializing in five academic programs: Medical Academy, Vet Academy, Firefighting Academy, Engineering Academy, Construction, Automotive,...
in Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
. He set Lee County, Florida
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
records with 133 catches for 2,997 yards and 36 touchdowns during his career. In his senior year, Watkins helped South Fort Myers reach the AAA state semifinals with 54 catches for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Watkins was a highly touted recruit before the 2011 college football season. He was rated the third-best wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
prospect in the nation by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
and fifth best by Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
.
College career
Watkins committed to ClemsonClemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in November 2010. He was also recruited by Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
but decided to go to a school outside Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to get immediate playing time.
Despite not taking part in spring practice, Watkins made an immediate impact for Clemson in his freshman season in 2011
2011 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2011 Clemson Tigers football team represents Clemson University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers will be led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his third full year and fourth overall since taking over midway through 2008 season. They will play their home games at Memorial...
. He caught 28 passes for 433 yards and six touchdowns in his first four games, including 10 catches, 155 yards and two TDs against defending national champions Auburn
2011 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2011 Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in the college football season of 2011–2012. The team is coached by Gene Chizik, who is entering his third season with Auburn. The Tigers play its home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, and competes in the Western...
. He broke 11 school freshman records seven games into the season, including total all-purpose yards previously held by C. J. Spiller
C. J. Spiller
Clifford "C.J." Spiller Jr. is an American Football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was an All-American at Clemson University and was drafted 9th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft...
.