Watkins was a very productive weak-side linebacker, accumulating 99, 116 and 118 tackles the past three seasons at Death Valley. Really grabbed the national spotlight in the Tigers' first game of 2007, racking up 13 tackles in a nationally televised upset win against Florida State on Labor Day. He also went though some tribulations during college, losing his brother David to a heart condition and then his family's home in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina.

Positives: Good straight-line speed, quickly closing on the ball and getting to ballcarriers in space … Chases down the line and from sideline to sideline in order to get into the action … Has the quickness to get into his drop and attack the flat … Willing to fill a gap with his body and stay up to stop the run … Effective on special teams units.

Negatives: Undersized … Adequate at staving off blocks in the open field, but struggles in space because he does not change directions quickly or take great angles … Not an explosive tackler … Does not regularly make plays in the backfield, even though he constantly attacks the line of scrimmage, because of his lack of strength and containment discipline … Mental discipline will be questioned by teams after he was academically ineligible for his team's bowl game this year.

Three-year starter at linebacker and team captain as a senior at Edna Karr Magnet School … All-district in 2001,02 … All-Westbank New Orleans from 2000-02 … All-Metro New Orleans in 2002 … 2002 Orleans/Jefferson Parish All-Star Game player who earned defensive MVP honors … coached by Don Wattigny … Chose Clemson over Michigan State, Mississippi, Oklahoma State, and Tulane.

Born Oct. 8, 1985 … Majoring in community recreation management.