Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State
Size:
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 233 pounds
Arm Length: 32 7/8"
Hand Size: 9 7/8"
Accomplishments:
Butkus Award Finalist (2023) • First-Team All-SEC (2023)
“Nathaniel Watson is a highly productive off-ball linebacker who has good size and length but is just an average overall athlete with limited speed and quickness to make plays at the NFL level.”
Strengths:
Production
Length
Pass rush
Concerns:
Take on/block deconstruction
Range
Change of direction
Film Analysis:
Mississippi State’s Nathaniel Watson enters the draft after a sensational career that saw him develop into one of the best and most productive linebackers in college football. Watson is a sixth-year senior who has played a ton of football. He aligned as an off-the-ball linebacker in the Bulldogs 3-3-5 defense and that's where he projects best at the next level.
Watson is a well-built linebacker with good size and excellent length. He is an above-average athlete who is a smooth mover in space but lacks quick twitch and explosive movements. Watson is a good player in zone coverage, displaying a very good ability to get depth in his drops, and shows good awareness of backs and receivers entering his area. He is an instinctive player in coverage and naturally can flow to the football by reading the quarterback's eyes.
In man coverage, Washington showcases good length and physicality to be competitive at the catch point but lacks the quickness and speed to stay connected with shifty and fast receivers. Watson was used as a rusher in obvious passing situations and was productive in this regard due to his ability to time the snap and his relentless motor to never give up chasing the quarterback.
Watson is a run-and-hit linebacker who is at his best when he has a free alley to the ball-carrier. He struggles coming downhill in the box as he lacks the strength to take on blockers and stack and shed. Watson has just average speed to the sideline and ball-carriers can get outside on him when he is in pursuit. He is a good tackler when he gets squared up on the ball-carrier and has a very good tackle radius.
Overall, Watson has some redeeming qualities such as his length and ability as a zone defender, but his lack of quickness and physicality hurt his pro projection.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Brentley Weissman
Exposures: Ole Miss (2023), Texas A&M (2023), Auburn (2023)
