The best runner in America bulged out of Raymond James Stadium in a BIG way Friday night.
His name? Desmond Watson.
Okay, not really, but the 449-pound defensive lineman generated the most exciting 1-yard run in recent Florida football history in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday.
With the Gators up 26-0 on Tulane in the fourth quarter, Watson lined up behind backup QB Aidan Warner on a 3rd-and-1. He took the carry and got the first down.
“Bowl games, you’re looking for buttons to push, and I think this helped our team,” coach Billy Napier said. “You saw that sideline light up when he went out there.”
After some pressure from teammates, Watson struck the iconic Heisman pose.
The run capped off one of Watson’s most memorable games as a Gator. It came in the perfect setting – his final collegiate game, just 30 miles from his hometown of Plant City in Florida’s 33-8 win over Tulane.
For Watson, the run pleased the hoards of fans who called for him to rumble all season.
“Since I came to college, every time I would go on the internet, I would see somebody saying that I should be on some type of package, getting the ball, especially wearing number 21 — a running back number,” Watson said.
Napier said the play originally called for Watson to block for a play-action pass. However, teammates pleaded for Watson to receive the rock instead.
“Heck of a way for him to finish his career,” Napier said.
Besides his 1-yard bulldozing, Watson’s box score numbers don’t look all that impressive.
He registered just one tackle. However, when you get tackled by a man who nearly weighs a quarter of a ton, it tends to sting.
In the first quarter, with Florida up 3-0, Tulane QB Ty Thompson ran it on a 3rd-and-2.
Watson cornered Thompson and threw him down.
No, this isn’t the typical hyperbole you see with football writing.
He, literally, picked up Thompson and slammed him to the ground.
Watson said he preferred the run since tackling – or thrusting opponents – is “routine” for him.
“It’s something (running the ball) I haven’t done in years,” Watson said. “I feel like tackling people is routine or picking people up or something like that is routine.”
Napier said Watson’s hammer, which forced a Green Wave punt, inspired the defense. The Gators pitched a shutout for 59 minutes and 30 seconds, until a Tulane touchdown with 30 seconds left.
It’s unfortunate that Watson’s collegiate career is over because he said he can catch the ball too.
“I can do it all. Every time I do something more athletic than they expect me to, I just look like this, I can do it all,” Watson said.
After the game, Watson embraced his subjects, who awaited an autograph from the man of the hour.
He ended his senior season with 21 total tackles and 64 throughout his Florida career.
Leave a Reply