Austin Watkins

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

Austin Watkins
No. 14 – Birmingham Stallions
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1998-02-16) February 16, 1998
Fort Myers, Florida
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College:UAB
Undrafted:2021
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Conference USA (2020)
  • Second-team All-Conference USA (2019)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life and high school

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

College career

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.[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

San Francisco 49ers

Watkins signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2021.[8] He was waived/injured on August 17, 2021 and placed on injured reserve.[9] He was released on August 25. He was re-signed to the 49ers practice squad on November 3, 2021.[10] He was released on November 23.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On January 31, 2022, Watkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[11] He was waived on May 16.[12]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

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.[13]

Memphis Showboats

Watkins signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL on October 22, 2022.[14] 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.[15]

Birmingham Stallions

Watkins was traded to the Birmingham Stallions on January 11, 2023.[16]

References
  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. "Talented wide receiver". UAB.
  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. "49ers Sign 10 Rookies". 49ers.com. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  9. "49ers Make a Series of Roster Moves". 49ers.com. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  10. "49ers Open Practice Windows for Gould, Kittle and Wilson Jr". 49ers.com. November 3, 2021.
  11. Smith, Scott (January 31, 2022). "Bucs Sign Five More to Futures Contracts". Buccaneers.com.
  12. Smith, Scott (May 16, 2022). "Three Tryout Players Earn Contracts with Buccaneers". Buccaneers.com.
  13. 3Down Staff (2022-08-18). "Riders release American receiver Austin Watkins Jr". 3DownNation. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  14. @USFLBandits (October 22, 2022). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
  15. Knight, Joey. "Tampa Bay Bandits won't play in United States Football League in 2023". tampabay.com. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  16. @USFLStallions (January 11, 2023). "Transfer of playing rights" (Tweet). Retrieved January 11, 2023 – via Twitter.
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