SCOUTING THE COMMITS: Offensive tackle Naasir Watkins
Naasir Watkins committed to Kentucky on Wednesday night. He's the subject of today's edition of our scouting report series.
MORE IN CATS ILLUSTRATED'S "SCOUTING THE COMMITS" SERIES
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Scouting Report: Holland (Ohio) Springfield running back Bryant Koback
Scouting Report: Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna defensive end Chris Whittaker
Scouting Report: Ludowici (Ga.) Long County linebacker Jamin Davis
Scouting Report: Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban quarterback Danny Clark
SENIOR YEAR: Watkins has had a nice growth spurt over the past couple of years and has blossomed into a prototypical 6-foot-6, 292-pound specimen at tackle. He made the transition to offensive tackle, from tight end, before the season and seemed to take to his new role well.
Good Counsel finished the year 6-5 (3-3), losing five of their final eight games. The Falcons topped the 30-point mark just three times all season, so it was a down offensive year for the program.
Watkins and the Good Counsel offensive line did allow Mohamed Ibrahim to rush for more than 1,300 yards, and the team rushing average was a respectable 5.1 yards per carry. The big problem on offense was the absence of balance, and specifically major struggles with the passing game.
STRENGTHS: One of the most attractive aspects of Watkins as a commitment in UK's 2017 class is the seeming universal consensus that he is a player who has improved significantly over the past year and is only scratching the surface of his potential. The strides he made from his junior to senior year at Good Counsel are impressive. In fact, he may have improved as much from 2015 to 2016 as any player on Kentucky's commitment list. With Watkins enrolling at UK next year, it's a very good time to peak.
Watkins' build is absolutely ideal for an offensive tackle -- 6-foot-6, 292 pounds. His 83-inch wing span is just fine, too. He has room to grow and should ultimately be a 320-pound prototypical tackle, at least by his physique.
That Watkins played tight end as a junior is a testament to his athleticism, which is solid. He wasn't a tight end who went out on routes often, serving rather as an in-line blocker next to a tackle, but he's played extensively on the line whether at tight end or tackle. He is a tackle prospect and that's exactly what Kentucky has been looking for in this class.
Those close to the Good Counsel program believe Watkins is equally adept as a run blocker and in pass sets. Watkins has the makings of a good kick slide.
Watkins comes off the ball very well with a couple of strong first steps. That's one of the things that jumped out to college coaches throughout the recruiting process. It's one of his best qualities. Watkins also uses his hands very well.
Perhaps just as important as Watkins' physical attributes and so-called ceiling is the fact that plenty of people believe his leadership qualities, work ethic and intelligence are stand-out intangibles as well. He's an impressive interview and his determination and love for the game comes through when he speaks. He has a good motor and finishes blocks. He holds his blocks well and, as Mid-Atlantic region analyst Adam Friedman has said, has the ability to get to the second level to take out linebackers.
In early 2015, before Watkins' junior season, he attended a Rivals Camp Series event, and Friedman provided the scouting report: "On the hoof, Watkins is a pretty impressive prospect and he showed that while he's still early in his development fundamentally, he has good football instincts that allow to make up for what he might be lacking in fundamentals. Quality offensive line technique isn't learned overnight, but even as Saturday's camp went along, Watkins took coaching well and saw immediate results during one-on-ones. It should only be a matter of time before his offer list starts growing."
Friedman has also praised Watkins' leverage dating back two years.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: While Watkins has improved rapidly over the past year, and while his technique has improved, he still has a ways to go in terms of polishing his all-around game. He also does not have a very lengthy track record of playing one position at a high level. So he is still a work in progress, though less raw than before, and lacking a bit in terms of real game experience at tackle, the position he's been recruited to play at Kentucky. Coaching, repetition and, simply enough, time, are the remedies for this.
On tape, Watkins appears to be stronger as a run blocker blowing open running lanes than in pass sets. The same is true of fellow commit Austin Dotson, in part because these players have been asked to do more of the former than the latter. His footwork can improve and he will need to demonstrate he can handle speed rushers on the outside.
NOTES: Watkins landed four Power Five offers over the course of his recruitment, from Kentucky, Syracuse, Virginia and Pittsburgh.
He was planning to officially visit Temple until after his official visit to Kentucky. While the timing of his decision made it seem like Matt Rhule's departure for Baylor played a role in cancelling his trip to the Philadelphia school, in reality it was his official visit to Kentucky that helped him make his decision.
Watkins has played organized football since he was in the fifth grade.
Vince Marrow offered Watkins while he was in the Maryland and Washington D.C. area midseason, checking on Joshua Paschal, Tariq Castro-Fields and others.
Watkins camped at West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio State during the summer of 2015. Penn State and Duke were among the schools that had not yet offered, at the time of his commitment to UK, but had shown serious interest at one point or another in the process.