Desmond Watson

Desmond Watson (born 2003 (age 19)) is an American football defensive tackle for the Florida Gators. From Armwood High School, Watson is known for his size, standing at 6 ft and weighing over 400 lb. One of the largest players in NCAA Division I football history, he has played for Florida since the 2021 season and was a starter in 2022.

Early life
Born in Plant City, Florida, Watson was one of six children and was the lightest at birth. He quickly increased in size and by the time he was in pee-wee youth football leagues he was already a "giant", according to The Naples Daily News. He attended Armwood High School in Seffner, playing football and participating in shot put. By his junior year, he weighed 375 lb, a number heavier than every defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) at the time.

Watson played 13 games as a junior in 2019, totaling 65 tackles, 34 of which were for a loss, as well as 10.0 sacks, helping Armwood compile a record of 12–2 and make a deep run in the state playoffs. He was named a second-team all-state selection for his performance. As a senior, he played eight games, posting 39 tackles and 6.0 sacks. Watson finished his time at Armwood with 158 total tackles, including 113 solo stops, 24.0 sacks and nine quarterback hurries. A four-star recruit, He received offers to play college football from several major schools, including Alabama, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee, eventually choosing to commit to play for the Florida Gators.

College career
When Watson enrolled at Florida in 2021, he weighed 440 lb. He was able to lower his weight to 400 lb to begin his freshman season. He appeared in all 13 games on the year, seeing action on special teams and as a reserve defensive lineman, thus becoming one of the largest players in NCAA Division I football history. He played a total of 150 snaps and saw defensive action in eight games, recording seven tackles and a half-sack. Between his freshman and sophomore seasons, his weight increased to 415 lb.

Watson, a fan favorite, became a starter as a sophomore in 2022, appearing in 13 games, 10 as a starter, and recording 25 tackles and 1.5 TFLs. He also forced, recovered, and returned a fumble against South Carolina which became a viral video. Watson entered spring camp in 2023 weighing 449 lb, but has since dropped his weight.

Personal life
Watson wears number 21 to honor his younger brother, who became disabled after suffering a stroke.