Eric Watts should not be confused with Erik Watts.
| Eric Watts | |
| Current Team: | New York Jets |
| Number: | 58 |
| Position: | Defensive end |
| Birth Date: | 1 October 2000 |
| Birth Place: | Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 5 |
| Weight Lb: | 277 |
| High School: | Sumter (Sumter, South Carolina) |
| College: | UConn (2019–2023) |
| Undraftedyear: | 2024 |
| Pastteams: |
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| Status: | Active |
Eric Watts (born October 1, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UConn.
From Sumter, South Carolina, Watts attended Sumter High School where he played football and basketball, being selected to the Offense–Defense All-American Bowl in football while helping the team win county and region championships.[1] As a senior, he had 8 1/2 sacks while helping Sumter win ten straight games.[2] He committed to play college football for the UConn Huskies.[3]
Watts began seeing extended action at UConn as a true freshman in 2019.[4] He appeared in all 12 games that year and totaled 30 tackles.[5] The team's 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, Watts played 10 games while accumulating 39 tackles.[6] He appeared in 13 games in the 2022 season and posted 49 tackles while leading the team in both tackles-for-loss (10) and sacks (7.0), additionally blocking two kicks and having two forced fumbles.[1] He had 34 tackles and two sacks as a senior in 2023 and was invited to participate at the 2024 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.[7] [8]
Watts signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024.[9] He was also selected by the Memphis Showboats in the fifth round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17.[10]