Overview
Watts is a four-year starter for the Aggies, living up to the four-star recruiting status that accompanied him to A&M (he had nine interceptions as a high school senior to earn first-team Class 4A All-State notice in Forney, Texas). He led the team with three interceptions as a true freshman free safety in 2014, recording 59 tackles, two for loss, and nine pass breakups. Watts put up 126 tackles in 13 starts in his second year on the team, six of them going for losses, and he intercepted one pass while breaking up two others. Watts' junior campaign was cut short by a leg injury, but he still made 56 tackles, six for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in nine starts. He earned third-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-SEC honors in 2017, starting 12 games, posting 87 tackles, 10 for loss, four interceptions, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks.
Watts is a feast or famine player whose biggest faults are often self-inflicted and not due to a lack of talent or athletic ability. He's smooth and athletic and plays with the instincts and ball skills to flip the field on the next level. Watts' success as a professional will likely depend on work ethic and consistency as a tackler.
Strengths
Very impressive athletic ability
Loose and flexible through lower body with ability to swivel and swerve around the field
Possesses above-average cover skills and soft hands
Has feet and fluidity to line up in man
Plays with instincts and timing
Recognizes opportunities to undercut routes and make plays on the ball
Has twitchy burst to break on throws
Anticipates and triggers to make plays outside of his coverage area
Good leaper with high-point ability
Rangy
Slick with ability to dart into crevices and find tackle angles near the line of scrimmage
Has striking ability
Able to blow up screen passes with downhill quickness
Weaknesses
Lacking ideal size and build
Has missed games on three different occasions
Too many feast or famine plays
Inconsistent and not always trust-worthy in run support
Loses leverage in pursuit and overruns the play
Picks and chooses when to square up and tackle with technique
Will opt for ankle-diving too frequently
Urgency in pursuit is lacking from the backside
Inconsistency at finishing plays costs his defense at times