Sammy Watkins commits to the Tigers

by TigerNet Staff - Mon Nov 22 11:20:32 GMT-04:00 2010

Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd is going to have a “target rich environment” when he looks downfield next season.

Sammy Watkins, the nation's No. 2 wide receiver according to Scout.com, verbally committed to the Tigers this morning, joining the already-committed Charone Peake of Dorman High School and several others to give Clemson a solid group of young receivers heading into next season.

With the commitment, Scout.com has moved the Tigers’ 2011 recruiting class up to No. 10 in the nation.

The South Fort Myers star picked the Tigers over Alabama, Florida, Miami, Michigan and North Carolina. “I really like the atmosphere up there, the coaches and the team," Watkins told the Naples News. "It’s an all-around good school where I can get a good education. (Clemson coach Dabo Swinney) said that it’s really up to me how soon I get playing time. I’m looking to start right away and he told me that’s up to me and how hard I work.”

His head coach at South Fort Myers told the Naples News that Watkins is comfortable at Clemson.

“He really likes the kids up there and the coaches," South coach Grant Redhead said. "He isn’t crazy about being in the spotlight, but he just feels real comfortable up there.”

Redhead said he has counted 56 scholarship offers from Division I schools.

So far this season he has 37 receptions for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last week playing quarterback in the "wildcat" formation Watkins ran for 150 yards on just 5 carries and three touchdowns, and threw a touchdown pass. Watkins has over 2,604 receiving yards in his career.

The 6-foot-2, 191-pounder has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl to be played in January in San Antonio, and be televised by NBC. Watkins has been timed at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash and bench-presses 295 pounds.

Watkins has been planning to make an unofficial visit to Clemson for the USC game.

TigerNet has been in contact with Watkins and we hope to have more with him after he gets out of school today.

2011 Football Commitments


1. Shaq Anthony		OL  6-5  260 Piedmont, SC (Wren HS)


2. Isaiah Battle 	OL  6-7  260 St George, Virginia (Blue Ridge HS)


3. Mike Bellamy		RB  5-10 180 Punta Gorda, FL (Charlotte HS)


4. Martavis Bryant	WR  6-3  195 Hargrave Military Academy


5. Corey Crawford	DE  6-5  275 Hargrave Military Academy


6. Cortez Davis		DB  6-3  200 Daytona Beach, FL (Mainland HS)


7. Kevin Dodd		DL  6-5  270 Greer, SC (Riverside HS)


8. B.J. Goodson		LB  6-1  215 Lamar, SC (Lamar HS)


9. Joe Gore		DE  6-6  262 Lake Waccamaw, NC (East Columbus HS)


10. Adam Humphries	WR  5-11 176 Roebuck, SC (Dorman HS)


11. Grady Jarrett	DL  6-1  280 Conyers, GA (Rockdale County HS)


12. Marlin Lane		RB  6-1  190 Daytona Beach, FL (Mainland HS)


13. Eric MacLain	TE  6-5  245 Fayetteville, NC Jack (Britt HS)


14. Jerome Maybank	DT  6-4  310 Pawley's Island (Waccamaw HS)


15. Tony McNeal    	QB  6-1  180 Chester, SC (Chester, HS)


16. Ryan Norton		OL  6-4  275 Mauldin, SC (Mauldin HS)


17. Charone Peake	WR  6-3  200 Spartanburg, SC (Dorman HS)


18. Robert Smith  	ATH 6-0  180 Ft Dorchester, SC (Woodland HS)


19. Stanton Seckinger   WR  6-5  200 Charleston, SC (Porter-Gaud HS) 


20. Cole Stoudt	        QB  6-3  195 Dublin, OH (Dublin Coffman HS)


21. Colton Walls     	LB  6-2  230 Charlotte, NC (Latin HS)


22. Sammy Watkins     	WR  6-0  200 Fort Myers, FL (South Fort Myers HS)


23. DeShawn Williams	DT  6-0  280 Central, SC (Daniel HS)