Markees Watts

Markees Watts (born December 7, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Charlotte 49ers and was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Early years
Watts was born on December 7, 1999, and grew up in Lancaster, South Carolina. He attended Lancaster High School and earned back-to-back regional defensive player of the year awards as a sophomore and junior, after having compiled 27 sacks during that time. He had a season-ending injury on the first play of his senior season. Ranked a two-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the Charlotte 49ers.

College career
As a true freshman at Charlotte in 2018, Watts played all 12 games and had two tackles. The following year, he started all 13 games and placed third in the conference with 9.5 sacks, being named honorable mention All-Conference USA. He played five games, one as a starter, in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. In 2021, he started all 12 games and led them in tackles-for-loss (9.0) and placed second in sacks (4.0).

Professional career
Watts signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023.