'16 FL DB Craig Watts Jr. (USF Verbal)

[ResLife Hero]

Safety / Cornerback / Running Back
Saint Petersburg, FL (Gibbs)

Measurements

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 180
40: 4.44

Rankings

Rivals: 5.8 Rating, #37 FL
247: 91 Rating, #31 FL, #9 S, #218 Overall
Scout: #22 S, #291 Overall
ESPN: NR

247 Composite: 90.43 Rating, #38 FL, #11 S, #268 Overall


Offers
Akron
Alabama
Arizona
Boston College
Connecticut
Florida
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa State
Kentucky
Louisville
Marshall
Miami (FL)
Michigan
Mississippi State
Missouri
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Penn State
Pittsburgh
South Florida
Syracuse
Temple
UAB
UCF
Wake Forest
Wisconsin


Highlights:
Craig Watts - Hudl
<iframe src='//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/2251550/highlights/163964376' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>'16 FL S Craig Watts Jr. (<a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016">@NoFlyZone_2016</a>) is in contact w <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> & calls it one of his "dream schools". (Free)
<a href="http://t.co/Zd8r87vobV">http://t.co/Zd8r87vobV</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/539598390355832834">December 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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With the Notre Dame season wrapping up, the Irish coaches have turned the attention to solidifying the 2015 recruiting class. However, they are keeping close tabs on elite 2016 talent and Notre Dame assistant coach Tony Alford reached out to 2016 Florida defensive back Craig Watts Jr.
“I talked to Coach Alford on Twitter on today,” Watts said. “He was very interested in me and told me to expect to hear from him soon. He said right now the coaches are scattered across the country, but that in the spring he was going to stop by.”
The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder called Notre Dame on of his ‘dream schools’ and elaborated on why the Irish are regarded so highly.
“To be honest, I have always liked Notre Dame,” explained Watts. “I really like the environment of the school with it being a Catholic school. I like the program that they have right now too.
“I am a Christian kid and God is very important to me. I want to go to a school that students have similar values that I have. I like Notre Dame a lot because of that.”
Listed as a cornerback on some recruiting services, Watts says Notre Dame is recruiting him at a different spot.
“Notre Dame is scouting me at strong safety and I am a hard hitter,” he said. “I love to hit. I just like to hit.”
2014 was a big year for the four-star prospect and he has a feeling his senior year will be better. Watts hold offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio State amongst others and he says that only motivates him going into his senior year.
“We finished 5-6 this year,” he said. “Personally, I feel like I had a great season overall. I have a feeling that my senior year will be a huge season for me.
“I have 18 offers right now and they only motivate me to have a big senior season.”
While it’s still very early in the recruiting process for Watts, he has narrowed down a few factors in what he is looking for in a program. The Christian environment will play a factor along with having an overall comfort at the school.
“I am looking for a school that I could be there for my whole career,” stated Watts. “I want a school that has a family atmosphere. I want to go to a school that I feel comfortable at and has a great coaching staff.
“Distance will not play a factor in my decision at all. If I feel the school has everything that I am looking for right now, I will go.”

 

[IrishLion]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just received a Offer from Notre Dame truly blessed &#55357;&#56903;</p>— Craig Watts Jr. (@NoFlyZone_2016) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016/status/562336515611586562">February 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[woolybug25]

I'm down with this offer.

 

[NDPhilly]

Loy with the CB

 

[arrowryan]

Loy with the CB

He puts down the most random CBs

 

[woolybug25]

He puts down the most random CBs

I would say that this is low hanging fruit, right here.

 

[rtrn2glory]

can he play safety?

 

[GoldenDomer]

can he play safety?

This will be the first question asked on every '16 DB thread

 

[TheTurningPoint]

He is being recruited as a Safety.

 

[irishff1014]

He is at least ways saying the right things.

 

[GoldenDomer]

He is being recruited as a Safety.

Translation: He gone.

 

[Irish#1]

Loy with the CB

Kid talks about going to a Christian school and has always liked ND. Attaboy Loy!

 

[CanadalovesND]

In his Top 3.

 

[NDinL.A.]

He puts down the most random CBs

If by 'random' you mean 'anyone with an ND offer who shows even a modicum of interest', I agree with you.

 

[CanadalovesND]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Congrats to my boy <a href="https://twitter.com/TonnJoness">@TonnJoness</a> for committing to to ND hopefully we'll be playing together some day &#55356;&#57152; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irish?src=hash">#Irish</a></p>— Craig Watts Jr. (@NoFlyZone_2016) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016/status/579686256067682304">March 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016">@NoFlyZone_2016</a> thanks bruhh i know where you going but im not gone say anything !!!!</p>— T4⃣ (@TonnJoness) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonnJoness/status/579686796637945857">March 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[greyhammer90]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Congrats to my boy <a href="https://twitter.com/TonnJoness">@TonnJoness</a> for committing to to ND hopefully we'll be playing together some day �� <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irish?src=hash">#Irish</a></p>— Craig Watts Jr. (@NoFlyZone_2016) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016/status/579686256067682304">March 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016">@NoFlyZone_2016</a> thanks bruhh i know where you going but im not gone say anything !!!!</p>— T4⃣ (@TonnJoness) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonnJoness/status/579686796637945857">March 22, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[irishff1014]

Per TV Denson has a good rapport with him. as well Jones is making him a priority to recruit.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>'16 4-star FL S planning June visit to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ND?src=hash">#ND</a>. Will visit <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FSU?src=hash">#FSU</a> today & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bama?src=hash">#Bama</a> on Sat. (Premium)

<a href="http://t.co/YghslNYVn0">http://t.co/YghslNYVn0</a> <a href="http://t.co/gbbEUme6If">pic.twitter.com/gbbEUme6If</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/587954650860523520">April 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[PANDFAN]

made his top 3

 

[Irish#1]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>'16 4-star FL S planning June visit to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ND?src=hash">#ND</a>. Will visit <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FSU?src=hash">#FSU</a> today & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bama?src=hash">#Bama</a> on Sat. (Premium)

<a href="http://t.co/YghslNYVn0">http://t.co/YghslNYVn0</a> <a href="http://t.co/gbbEUme6If">pic.twitter.com/gbbEUme6If</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/587954650860523520">April 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Even though there will probably be more in the future, I like it when we get the last visit.

 

[Big23Head]

Four star safety captures 'Dream' offer

St. Petersburg (Fla.) Admiral Farragut Academy four-star safety Craig Watts is flooded with scholarship offers from coast to coast, but it was just this week when the rising senior reeled in his "dream" scholarship offer.

It's not like Craig Watts has a shortage of scholarship offers to sort through sailing into the spring, but there's no denying the significance of his latest offer from Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State Seminoles.

Watts, a four-star prospect and one of premier safeties in the country out of St. Petersburg (Fla.) Admiral Farragut Academy, set foot in Tallahassee for an unofficial visit on Tuesday and had nothing but glowing reviews for the brief time he spent mingling with the Seminoles' coaching staff.

"That was a great offer and I was happy because that was my dream school growing up," Watts said. "It was a great visit and (wide receivers) coach (Lawrence) Dawsey and his staff did a great job of showing me around."

Possessing a gaudy offer sheet consisting of Florida, Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Missouri and Penn State, Watts is a top priority for a boatload of BCS programs, but realized how coveted he was by the Seminoles after having a significant amount of face time with Fisher himself.

"I spoke with (defensive coordinator) Charles Kelly and he's a great coach," Watts said. "I spoke with him for an hour and he's just a great coach overall. I spoke to coach Jimbo for an hour and he was the one who offered, so that was huge. My overall visit was great."

Watts, who has over a handful of programs piquing his full interest early on, has an idea of when he wants to shut down the recruiting process and select one lucky school.

"I would say my top schools are Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame, Colorado, Penn State, Michigan and that's it right now," Watts said. "I want to make (my decision) before my senior campaign, but I don't have a set time right now because I still have schools I want to go visit."

Watts leaves for Alabama on Friday morning and has no additional visits planned at this time.

Stay tuned to Scout as we continue to track Watts' recruitment.

 

[PANDFAN]

guess it increased since yesterday

guess it increased since yesterday

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My Top 10 so far no order <a href="http://t.co/PirSKrVBdk">pic.twitter.com/PirSKrVBdk</a></p>— Craig Watts Jr. (@NoFlyZone_2016) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016/status/588742245253255168">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[irish4ever]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My Top 10 so far no order <a href="http://t.co/PirSKrVBdk">pic.twitter.com/PirSKrVBdk</a></p>— Craig Watts Jr. (@NoFlyZone_2016) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016/status/588742245253255168">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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It must be that new math ... I count 11 schools!?!

 

[Booslum31]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My Top 10 so far no order <a href="http://t.co/PirSKrVBdk">pic.twitter.com/PirSKrVBdk</a></p>— Craig Watts Jr. (@NoFlyZone_2016) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoFlyZone_2016/status/588742245253255168">April 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Why can't DB's (RBs, WRs, QBs) be more like OL when it comes to their recruitment. Top (11) LOL.

 

[Big23Head]

Scout: He is announcing on his Mom's birthday in July. ND needs a visit to occur in order to have a chance in overcoming FSU. The staff is working hard as well as Tony Jones (Jr. and Sr.)

 

[TheTurningPoint]

There has been a few things that have delayed the process with ND. One would be his old school not exactly being overly corperative with his transcripts.

 

[GBdomer]

“Indiana, Ohio State, Arizona, Notre Dame and Alabama,” Watts said.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

“Indiana, Ohio State, Arizona, Notre Dame and Alabama,” Watts said.

Which of his relatives went to Indiana?

 

[dublinirish]

Badger.