Could October 3rd be the final game of Christian Watson’s career at NDSU?

Everyone in the football world is going to be focused on Trey Lance when October 3rd arrives, but there is another player to focus on. That player is a redshirt junior wide receiver, Christian Watson.

Watson is actually the son of a former NFL Player. Tim Watson played college football at Howard University. Tim played safety in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles from 1993 to 1997.

The younger Watson has the NFL in his blood. His Father actually holds the record for blocked kicks at Howard, with seven.

His father was drafted in the 6th round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. In 2018 the elder Watson officially changed his legal name to Tazim Wajid Wajed.

Enough about his Dad, let’s talk about the number 1 wide receiver at North Dakota State! The 6040, 200-pound wide receiver may be the best pound for pound wide receiver in the FCS. Last year, we watched Isaiah Coulter of Rhode Island leave early and hear his name called in the 2020 NFL Draft. Coulter was drafted by the Houston Texans in the 5th round with the 171st pick. I think Christian and Coulter are pretty similar, but I feel Christian is more polished.

Christian Watson has been a stud at WR since his HS days

Watson is a Tampa, Florida native and went to H.B. Plant High School where he played both wide receiver and safety like his father. He averaged 17.1 yards per catch and finished with 587 all-purpose yards scoring 8 times.

Watson was not highly recruited, but North Dakota State University does a good job in the Tampa area. They had landed Bruce Anderson the former Bison running back from the Tampa area the year before. Well, Watson would prove to be a home run for the Bison.

In his first year with NDSU, Watson actually redshirted. As a true freshman, Christian would start in two games and play in all 14. He finished with just nine receptions for 165 yards. The coaching staff did a great job last year getting Christian the ball more.

Last year, Christian Watson was NDSU’s leading receiver with 34 catches for 732 yards and six touchdowns.

Something to PROVE

He is going to have something to prove on October 3rd against Central Arkansas. Last year, in the National Championship, James Madison shut him down. Watson did not have one reception in the Championship, and it was widely watched by NFL teams. If Watson is considering the NFL, he will need a huge game against Central Arkansas and their star cornerback Robert Rochell.

More likely than not, Rochell is going to be covering the 6040 wide out, and he cannot afford to get shut down again without a reception. With only one game to prove his value in 2020, Watson has a tough decision to make. Will he stay or will he go. More likely than not, his quarterback Trey Lance is going to enter the NFL Draft, I mean he would be crazy not to. He is considered a top 3 quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft. Watson however may not be a top 100 player.

I think Watson can definitely make an NFL roster after the year, and I do feel he is the best wide receiver in the FCS, but he may be a late rounder like Isaiah Coulter. If Watson tears up Robert Rochell and Central Arkansas though, I think Watson’s stock is going to rise. Watson will then have a tough decision to make but do not just assume he will be back.