With the 144th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected wide receiver Justin Watson from the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 28.
Chosen as the seventh pick in the fifth round, Watson joins a Tampa Bay wide receiving crew that includes stud Mike Evans and former Philadelphia Eagle DeSean Jackson.
“To be a Buc today and to get that call is just a dream come true, and just made so much hard work worth it,” Watson said in a conference call.
A Third-Team AP All-American from Bridgeville, Pa., Watson finished his Penn career as the University’s all-time leader in receptions (286), receiving yards (3,777), receiving touchdowns (33) and all-purpose yards (4,116). He is also a three-time unanimous First-Team All-Ivy selection, the Ivy League record-holder for consecutive games with a catch (40) and consecutive games with a receiving TD (10), and the first player in Ivy League history with three 1,000-yard seasons.
“This is a great day for Justin, his family and our entire Penn football family,” said Ray Priore, the George A. Munger Head Coach of Football. “He is one of the most talented players to ever wear a Penn uniform and has absolutely earned this moment. From the day he stepped foot into Franklin Field, he has changed the culture and course of Penn football, and I am thrilled for him. The Buccaneers franchise has added a top-notch player and person to its group, and Tampa Bay fans are going to enjoy watching him make plays just as Penn fans have for the past four seasons.”
Watson is the 46th Quaker to be selected in the NFL Draft, and the first since Jeff Hatch was selected by the New York Giants in the third round in 2002. He joins five Penn alums who are currently on NFL rosters: Alek Torgersen of the Arizona Cardinals, Ryan O’Malley of the New York Giants, Brandon Copeland of the New York Jets, and Greg Van Roten of the Carolina Panthers.
Enrolled in the Wharton School, Watson has one final left on Wednesday before he graduates on May 14. Training camp opens in mid-July.
The Buccaneers open the regular season against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 9 and play the Eagles on Sept. 16.
