C
Cr122
Guest
High Wattage
Watt's Draft Rise Didn't Come Easily
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - The NFL Draft is the culmination of what's essentially a four-month job interview, and before that, a lifetime of sweat equity. For some, it's always come relatively easy.
For J.J. Watt, a certain first-round pick next week, it didn't.
Four years ago, Watt was a 250-pound tight end at Central Michigan, a two-game starter with eight catches. Hardly on his way to the draft's green room in New York City.
The Pewaukee native asked his parents if he could transfer back home and walk on at the University of Wisconsin. They agreed, but only had enough money for one year's tuition at Madison. The Badgers' head coach, Bret Bielema, couldn't guarantee a scholarship, saying he'd need to work his way into the "two-deep" on the depth chart. Watt said he'd make it by the following spring.
First Watt earned additional credits for a semester at Waukesha County Technical College and worked part-time at Pizza Hut. Then he walked on at UW in 2008, earning Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors in his redshirt season and eventually a scholarship.
Kind of "Rudy"-esque, except for the Pizza Hut part.
"The way I looked it was, every single practice was my game day," he said. "I just attacked every single day and tried to make myself better every day because I knew that was the only way I was going to get on the game field."
Watt also bulked up to 290 pounds and converted to defensive end, where he became a two-year starter and a star for the Badgers. He left Wisconsin after his redshirt junior season, having earned All-Big Ten and second-team AP All-American honors.
Now he's projected to go somewhere in the first 32 picks, valued for his versatility in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.
"It was a very humbling experience," Watt said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. "People ask me if I would go back and change it, if I could go to Wisconsin right away. There's not a chance in the world.
"Because I wouldn't be who I am today, I wouldn't have the character that I have, I wouldn't have the work ethic and the drive that I have if I didn't go through those experiences."
The Cowboys, who invited Watt for a pre-draft visit two weeks ago, have a need at defensive end in their 3-4 scheme. Starting left end Marcus Spears and rotation ends Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher are scheduled for free agency whenever the new league year begins. And they'd like to get more pressure on the quarterback.
Watt's size (6-5, 290) and skill set translate well to the five-technique position in a 3-4. He played some three-man fronts in passing situations at Wisconsin. And he's probably best known for his motor, much like Cowboys Pro Bowl lineman Jay Ratliff.
Watt said he tries to pattern his game after gritty Hall of Famer Howie Long.
I'm always going to be 110 mph on the field because I feel that's what the game deserves," he said. "I don't want to disrespect the game by taking a play off. That's just not how I play the game."
Watt won't have to wait much longer to see where he's playing next, but he's heard just about every possible destination, including Dallas.
"All my friends and family, they tell me where I'm mocked, where I'm going, what Mel Kiper and Todd McShay say," said Watt. "But I know the only draft that matters is the one on April 28. I'll just work hard and I'll see where I land."
Watt's Draft Rise Didn't Come Easily
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - The NFL Draft is the culmination of what's essentially a four-month job interview, and before that, a lifetime of sweat equity. For some, it's always come relatively easy.
For J.J. Watt, a certain first-round pick next week, it didn't.
Four years ago, Watt was a 250-pound tight end at Central Michigan, a two-game starter with eight catches. Hardly on his way to the draft's green room in New York City.
The Pewaukee native asked his parents if he could transfer back home and walk on at the University of Wisconsin. They agreed, but only had enough money for one year's tuition at Madison. The Badgers' head coach, Bret Bielema, couldn't guarantee a scholarship, saying he'd need to work his way into the "two-deep" on the depth chart. Watt said he'd make it by the following spring.
First Watt earned additional credits for a semester at Waukesha County Technical College and worked part-time at Pizza Hut. Then he walked on at UW in 2008, earning Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors in his redshirt season and eventually a scholarship.
Kind of "Rudy"-esque, except for the Pizza Hut part.
"The way I looked it was, every single practice was my game day," he said. "I just attacked every single day and tried to make myself better every day because I knew that was the only way I was going to get on the game field."
Watt also bulked up to 290 pounds and converted to defensive end, where he became a two-year starter and a star for the Badgers. He left Wisconsin after his redshirt junior season, having earned All-Big Ten and second-team AP All-American honors.
Now he's projected to go somewhere in the first 32 picks, valued for his versatility in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.
"It was a very humbling experience," Watt said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. "People ask me if I would go back and change it, if I could go to Wisconsin right away. There's not a chance in the world.
"Because I wouldn't be who I am today, I wouldn't have the character that I have, I wouldn't have the work ethic and the drive that I have if I didn't go through those experiences."
The Cowboys, who invited Watt for a pre-draft visit two weeks ago, have a need at defensive end in their 3-4 scheme. Starting left end Marcus Spears and rotation ends Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher are scheduled for free agency whenever the new league year begins. And they'd like to get more pressure on the quarterback.
Watt's size (6-5, 290) and skill set translate well to the five-technique position in a 3-4. He played some three-man fronts in passing situations at Wisconsin. And he's probably best known for his motor, much like Cowboys Pro Bowl lineman Jay Ratliff.
Watt said he tries to pattern his game after gritty Hall of Famer Howie Long.
I'm always going to be 110 mph on the field because I feel that's what the game deserves," he said. "I don't want to disrespect the game by taking a play off. That's just not how I play the game."
Watt won't have to wait much longer to see where he's playing next, but he's heard just about every possible destination, including Dallas.
"All my friends and family, they tell me where I'm mocked, where I'm going, what Mel Kiper and Todd McShay say," said Watt. "But I know the only draft that matters is the one on April 28. I'll just work hard and I'll see where I land."