When Desmond Watson stepped onto the field for Florida’s Pro Day, all eyes were on him, and for good reason.
At 6-foot-6 and an eye-popping 464 pounds, the Gators defensive tackle is a mountain of a man. But could he move like an NFL prospect? The answer, at least in the 40-yard dash, was a resounding “not really.”
Watson clocked in at 5.93 seconds, one of the slowest times ever recorded at a Pro Day. But here’s the thing: no one expected him to be a speedster. What really grabbed attention was what he did outside of that 40-yard sprint. He benched 225 pounds an astonishing 36 times and launched his massive frame 25 inches into the air on his vertical jump. For a guy his size, that’s almost unheard of.
A Unique Talent With A Unique Challenge
Watson’s weight has long been a topic of conversation. Florida listed him at 449 pounds during the 2024 season, but his Pro Day weigh-in confirmed that he had added even more mass. The significance of that number is impossible to ignore. No player tipping the scales at 400 pounds or more has ever been drafted into the NFL.
Yet, his performance in actual gameplay speaks for itself. Over four seasons with the Gators, Watson racked up 63 tackles in 51 games, including 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. His sheer size makes him a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen, and his ability to clog running lanes has been a defining feature of his collegiate career.
TRENDING: Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson ran a 5.93, 40-yard dash at his Pro Day today.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 27, 2025
One of the slowest 40-yard dashes ever.
Watson is 6-foot-6 and weighs 464 POUNDS.
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“He did awesome,” said Florida teammate Joey Slackman. “I knew he was gonna go for a crazy number. Obviously, he’s a huge dude, but he was locked in from the start.”
Florida head coach Billy Napier called Watson “a unicorn,” acknowledging his unparalleled combination of size and skill. Scouts took notice of Watson’s Pro Day performance, but whether his uniqueness earns him an NFL opportunity remains uncertain.
