Gabe Watson facts for kids
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 24, 1983 Novi, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 338 lb (153 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Southfield (Southfield, Michigan) |
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| College: | Michigan | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 4 / Pick: 107 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Gabriel Pierre Kim Watson (born September 24, 1983) is an American former professional football player. He played as a defensive tackle in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals picked him in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the University of Michigan.
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Early Life
Gabriel Watson grew up in Southfield, Michigan. He was a four-year starter on the varsity football team at Southfield High School. He played many different positions, including offensive and defensive tackle. He even helped out as a punter and place-kicker for two seasons.
During his senior year, Watson made 78 tackles and 10 sacks. His team often ran plays where their running backs followed him. He was recognized as one of the best players in the state. He earned All-State honors for both offense and defense. He was also named an All-American by Parade Magazine. Many sports publications ranked him as a top football prospect.
Besides football, Watson was also part of the wrestling and track teams in high school.
College Football Career
Gabriel Watson played college football for the University of Michigan. He studied general subjects while attending the university.
Playing for Michigan
In his first year (2002), Watson played in eight games. He made his first tackle against Illinois. He continued to gain experience as a defensive tackle.
During his second year (2003), Watson played in all 13 games. He made 13 tackles and one tackle for a loss. A tackle for loss means stopping an opponent behind their starting line. He had a career-high four tackles in one game against Indiana.
In his third year (2004), Watson became a starter, playing in all 12 games. He had 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing quarterback. His strong performance earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten first-team. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the Big Ten Conference.
For his senior year (2005), Watson continued to excel. He recorded a career-high 40 tackles and three sacks. He was again named to the All-Big Ten Conference First-team. He finished his college career with 92 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, and five sacks.
Professional Football Career
Before joining the NFL, Gabriel Watson participated in special tests. These tests measure a player's speed, strength, and agility. For example, he could bench press 36 times.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3+1⁄2 in (1.92 m) |
339 lb (154 kg) |
33 in (0.84 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
5.29 s | 1.84 s | 3.05 s | 4.80 s | 8.28 s | 27.0 in (0.69 m) |
8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
36 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day | ||||||||||||
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Watson in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft.
In his first NFL season (2006), Watson played in 12 games. He made his first NFL start in week six. He recorded his first career sack against the Oakland Raiders. He also recovered his first fumble against the Seattle Seahawks.
During the 2007 season, Watson played in all 16 regular season games. He had a total of 34 tackles. He consistently contributed to the team's defense throughout the year.
In April 2008, Watson broke his kneecap. He had surgery and worked hard to recover. He was expected to be ready for the start of the season. In 2009, he played in all 16 games and recorded 28 tackles.
New York Giants
Watson later signed with the New York Giants on August 2, 2011. However, he was released from the team before the regular season began on September 3, 2011.
