Desmond Watson wants to make it in the NFL, but before he can live out his dreams of playing on the biggest stage, he has overcome one obstacle: His weight.
Watson is hoping to be one of the names called on April 24, along with other names like stars Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers. The former is hoping to “change the franchise or the culture” of whichever team ends up drafting him, while the latter is risking hefty NIL offers to try his luck in the NFL draft after a rollercoaster year at Texas.
For Watson, the Florida star understands that he needs to work on his weight, a task that has been on his to-do list since he started playing for the Gators. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 464 pounds, the defensive lineman has been battling his weight and has not shied away from the challenge.
“It’s been like my same problem — not problem, but my same concern throughout college,” Watson said to FOX Sports on losing weight. “I’m getting more in depth, getting a better grasp of the things I need to do to be successful at the next level. It’s been interesting. I’ve learned a lot about myself in this process.”
If drafted, Watson would be the heaviest player selected in league history. Though the NFL does not officially record which players are the heaviest, it is often believed that former Chicago Bears tackle Aaron Gibson held that distinction, listed at 410 pounds during the 1999-2004 seasons, per FOX Sports.
Last year, Baltimore Ravens tackle Daniel Faalele was listed as the heaviest player in the league, with the 6-foot-8 star weighing in at 380 pounds. If Watson were to be drafted, he would be 84 pounds heavier than Faalele, which is an accomplishment in and of itself.
Throughout his collegiate career, Watson had been able to lower his weight, though it had fluctuated throughout the years. When he first enrolled at Florida, he was listed at 440 pounds, though when his freshman season rolled around, Watson dropped 40 pounds, though he still was one of the largest players in DI history.
Between his freshman and sophomore years, he weighed in at 415 pounds and for the rest of his collegiate career with the Gators, Watson’s weight ranged anywhere from 449 pounds to 464 pounds. Despite his weight fluctuating, Watson remained athletic, which is inexplicable to his high school head coach Evan Davis.
“The thing that got me, we were doing overhead squats, and he’s holding the bar at 185 pounds over his head, and he can squat down and his butt touches the ground and he goes back up and doing reps. I’m like ‘Bro, you’re a huge human being. You shouldn’t have that much bend and athletic ability.’ But he does,” Davis said to FOX Sports.
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Watson understands that losing weight to better his chances in the NFL and life is “hard” and admits that overeating can be a killer in its own way. “People have taught me to look at it like another addiction. It’s not drugs, but it’s addicting, whether that’s gaming, drugs, alcohol,” he added.
“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.” He added: “I think it’s more of a mental thing, training to eat better, to make better habits for myself to sustain life and football. It’s opened my eyes to see I can satisfy myself with better things, to not have a negative effect on me.”
Overall, the NFL prospect is hoping that keeping steady with his goals and staying focused on not eating unhealthy food will get him to where he wants to be when it is all said and done. The 2025 NFL Draft is set for April 24, with the Tennessee Titans holding the first pick.
