Todd Watkins

© East County Sports.com
OAKLAND (2-18-08) -- The inside scoop proved true as former Helix High and Grossmont College standout TODD WATKINS was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Raiders last Wednesday (Feb. 13). He is expected to soon sign a 1-year, incentive-laden contract.

At Helix, Watkins became the only athlete in 25 years to letter in four different sports. His high school teammates in football included New Orleans Saints RB REGGIE BUSH and San Francisco 49ers QB ALEX SMITH, but it was at Grossmont College where Watkins began to gain fame as an All-America receiver.

He eventually landed at BYU, earning a berth in the East-West Shrine Game, showcasing his skills to get drafted in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He spent his rookie season on the Arizona practice squad, then was on the Atlanta Falcons "taxi" unit before the Raiders became interested several weeks ago.

If he makes the ballclub, Watkins could play at Qualcomm Stadium against his hometown San Diego Chargers this season.

© East County Sports.com
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Days after the revamping Atlanta Falcons re-signed former Grossmont College All-America wide receiver TODD WATKINS, sources for East County Sports.com reports that Watkins' agent is in negotiations to work either a release or trade to allow Watkins to sign with the Oakland Raiders.

Watkins, one of four members of the practice squad agreeing to rejoin the Falcons last week, could easily be let go as Atlanta determines the future of its offense due to a new coaching staff and the loss of quarterback Michael Vick with his prison sentence due to last year's dog-fighting scandal.

Originally a seventh-round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals following two seasons at BYU, the 6-2, 191-pound receiver was on the active roster for just one game in 2006 (the season finale against his hometown San Diego Chargers), then spent the entire 2007 campaign on the Falcons' practice squad.

However, Watkins was noted for his work ethic and quickly learning opponents' offenses for use in Falcons practices, making him a valuable commodity for other NFL teams to pursue.

Watkins finished his BYU career with 1,605 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 94 receptions after helping the Griffins to a berth in 2003 state championship game.

© East County Sports.com
ATLANTA (9-4-07) -- Days following his release from the Arizona Cardinals, former Grossmont College All-America receiver TODD WATKINS has landed with another National Football League ballclub, signing a 1-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

Although asked to remain on the Cardinals' practice squad for a second season, Watkins received other offers. He was invited for an individual tryout with the Oakland Raiders, then actually worked out for the Cleveland Browns and the Falcons before signing with the NFC South ballclub.

Watkins will remain on the practice squad for at least four weeks to learn the team's offense.

Following a standout career with the Griffins after earning All-East County honors at Helix High, Watkins was a star receiver for BYU, finishing his Cougars career with 94 receptions for 1,605 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Watkins (6-2, 191 pounds) earned a berth in the East-West Shrine Game in San Antonio, collecting a key 45-yard pass which led to the game-winning touchdown for the West. He was later drafted by the Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft, spending the season on the practice squad except for the final game at San Diego, but was inactive against the Chargers.

© East County Sports.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. (8-28-07) -- Former Helix High and Grossmont College standout TODD WATKINS was among eight cuts made by the Arizona Cardinal on Tuesday (Aug. 28), allowing the team to meet the 75-man roster limit.

The wide receiver was caught in a numbers game at one of the team's deepest positions. However, as in 2006, Watkins may be asked to remain in town to be placed on a reserve list.

Watkins was a seventh-round pick out of BYU in 2006.

Wide receiver Todd Watkins with the finger-tip catch. (Courtesy, BYU File Photo)

(c) Easrt County Sports.com
TEMPE, Ariz. (12-31-06) -- Former Grossmont College All-American receiver TODD WATKINS will make his National Football League debut this afternoon, when his Arizona Cardinals travel to San Diego to meet the AFC West champion Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

Watkins, who will wear No. 14, was one of three players activated from the practice squad to the official 53-man roster. Also promoted were quarterback Shane Boyd and receiver Michael Spurlock.

The game will be televised on XETV Chl. 6, with coverage starting at 1 p.m.

Watkins (6-2, 191) was the Cardinals seventh round (218th overall) selection in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Brigham Young and was released in the team’s final roster cut on September 3. Signed back to the practice squad the following day, Watkins has spent the first 15 games of the season on the practice squad.

The former Cougars standout, Watkins amassed 1,605 yards and 13 touchdowns on 94 receptions as a two-year starter (21 games) at BYU. While at Grossmont, he helped the Griffins reach the 2003 California state championship game as one of the state's leading receivers, who was noted for his amazing one-handed catches.

Boyd (6-1, 232) was signed to the Cardinals practice squad on September 4 after spending the 2006 training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers where was released on September 2. He has been on the Cardinals practice squad for the first 15 games of the season.

Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Tennessee Titans in 2005 out of Kentucky, Boyd was released prior to the 2005 regular season by the Titans and was out of football last year. He signed with Pittsburgh in February, 2006 and was allocated to NFL Europe with the Cologne Centurions where he completed 100 of 185 passes for 1,139 yards and five touchdowns.

Spurlock (6-0, 200) was originally signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent from Mississippi this past April. A former college quarterback at Mississippi, Spurlock was released during the team’s final cut on September 3 and was signed to the practice squad the following day where he has spent the first 15 games of the season.

Converted into a wide receiver, Spurlock played in all 11 games with eight starts last year at quarterback at Mississippi and had 142 completions on 267 attempts (53.2%) for 1,703 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Sunday p.m. Update -- Although Watkins was placed on the Cardinals' official 53-man roster, he was not among the 45 players selected to be listed as active for the Chargers game.

East County Sports.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. (9-3-06) -- Already loaded at wide receiver, the Arizona Cardinals were seemingly looking to the future after they selected BYU wideout TODD WATKINS (Grossmont College) inthe seventh round of last spring's college player draft. On Saturday (Sept. 2), the Cards made that move official after playing Watkins and six others on the team's practice squad.

Arizona's list of wide receivers include veteran returnees Larry Fitzgerald, Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin, then the team picked up veteran Troy Walters in the offseason. However, with a look to the future because of salary cap circumstances, Watkins or former Notre Dame receiver Carlyle Holiday, who also was signed to the practice squad, could easily gain a starting berth either in 2007 or even this season should injuries hit the position.

Watkins signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals following the NFL draft.

The Cardinals' front office made the pair priority projects to get under contract before training camp begins later this month (July 30) at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., as Johnson and Watkins were the first members of Arizona's 2006 draft class to agree to terms. Details of their respective contracts were not released.

Watkins was a two-year starter at wide receiver for the Cougars and amassed 1,605 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 94 receptions. He led the Mountain West Conference with 1,042 yards receiving in 2004, good for the eighth best season total in school history and the most yards gained by a BYU player since Philadelphia Eagles running back Reno Mahe's 1,211 yards in 2001.

The 6-2, 191-pounder was named All-Mountain West Conference honorable mention by the NFL Draft Report in 2005 as a senior when he collected 42 receptions for 563 yards and seven touchdowns. As a junior in 2004, Watkins caught 52 balls for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns while also being named Associated Press All-American honorable mention and first-team Mountain West Conference.

Arizona will move to the West Valley and play at brand-new Cardinals Stadium this season. Located across a dry riverbed from Glendale Arena, home of the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, the air-conditioned facility has a retractable roof in the same size and shape as the well-known gap in the roof of Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

East County Sports.com
NEW YORK (5-1-06) -- Former community college All-America receiver TODD WATKINS, who helped Grossmont College to a No. 3 national ranking to close the 2003 season, will follow his family's bloodlines and will gain an opportunity to play professional football after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday's (Apr. 30) seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft. Watkins was the 218th overall selection.

Watkins was tabbed an All-America wide receiver by both JC Grid-Wire and J.C. Athletic Bureau as a sophomore when scored 176 points a receiver-kicker in 14 games for the Griffins. During his two-year career at Grossmont, Watkins averaged 24.6 yards on 57 catches. As a kicker, he converted 27 of 34 field goals

Watkins then played his final two seasons of college football at BYU, gaining a berth in the East-West Shrine Classic where he made a key catch which led to the game-winning touchdown.

Watkins currently is listed at 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, with a time of 4.44 in the 40.

Now, he joins a rising Cardinals ballclub which also featured the selection of USC quarterback Matt Leinhart, the 10th overall pick in the draft.

Watkins' great uncle, Tom Watkins, is a member of the Iowa State Athletic Hall of Fame after a stellar collegiate career (1958-1960), then played in the NFL as a running back for four teams, mostly for the Detroit Lions. In his career (1961-68), he rushed for 1,791 yards and 10 touchdowns, while catching 55 passes for 590 yards and four scores. The elder Watkins also had stops with the Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

While the great deal of attention -- understandably -- went to USC running back REGGIE BUSH, Watkins was also a teammate of the Heisman Trophy winner at Helix High School, along with current San Francisco 49ers quarterback ALEX SMITH.

With the Highlanders, Watkins was a four-sport standout, becoming only the second person in 25 years at Helix to letter in four different sports as a senior, including football, soccer, volleyball and track.

After earning all-San Diego Section honors as a receiver and kicker in both his junior and senior seasons, including a Division II section championship in 2000, Watkins was a member of the CIF state champion 400 relay in track

And his brother, Travis was a starting guard for USC in 2004.

Todd Watkins celebrates his TD catch against Cal at the Las Vegas Bowl. (BYU Courtesy photo by Mark Philbrick)

Watkins -- a Shrine-ing star
NFL stock rises with key grab for winning West TD

East County Sports.com
SAN ANTONIO (1-22-06) -- Oregon State wide receiver Mike Hass may have scored the game-winning touchdown, but if it weren't for BYU receiver TODD WATKINS, the East may have ultimately captured Saturday's (Jan. 21) 81st edition of the East-West Shrine Game presented by AT&T.

Watkins, a former Grossmont College JC All-American by way of Helix High School, made another of his remarkable catches, collecting a 45-yarder from Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal on the game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter. The West eventually outlasted the East, 35-31, at the Alamodome.

Watkins, who did not rack up big numbers in the game, made some crushing downfield blocks and managed to stretch the East defense enough to draw a key pass interference call.

The big play Watkins made was a leaping grab under the tight coverage of Alabama's Charlie Peprah. To those who've seen Watkins play, this was a vintage catch few receivers can match. He virtually screened off the defender, timed his leap perfectly and the West All-Stars went on to win the game.

Watkins completed his career at BYU with 101 career catches for 1,720 yards and 16 touchdowns, including 1,042 yards in 2004, then nine TDs in 2005 to lead the Cougars. He caught seven passes in a game three times this past season, including a three touchdown performance against TCU.

Watkins to start at Shrine All-Star Game

East County Sports.com
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (1-19-06) -- Former Helix High standout and Grossmont College All-America receiver TODD WATKINS will complete his college football career Saturday (Jan. 21) as one of 100 players invited to participate at the 81st annual East-West Shrine Game presented by AT&T. Starting in 1923, the game has been annually held in the San Francisco Bay area for more than 80 years before moving this season to the Alamodome. ESPN2 will show the game at 1 p.m. PT..

Watkins was a pre-season All-America candidate for Brigham Young University entering the 2005 season, finishing the year as the Cougars' third-leading recevier.

He completed the season by playing in the Las Vegas Bowl, catching five passes for 93 yards and a touchdown in a 35-28 loss to California. For the season, Watkins led BYU with 10 TD receptions, finishing with 49 grabs for 678 yards.

Watkins is expected to be selected in the NFL draft this spring.

East County Sports.com
LAS VEGAS (12-23-05) -- Former Grossmont College All-American receiver TODD WATKINS caught a touchdown pass to move BYU within seven points Thursday (Dec. 22), but Cal running back Marshawn Lynch answered with his third touchdown of the game to cap a 194-yard rushing effort, as the Golden Bears held on to capture the Las Vegas Bowl, 35-28, at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Lynch earned the MVP award for his effort, outdistancing Watkins and Bears' wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who caught a pair of TD passes for the Cougars, who fell short with their fourth-quarter comeback.

Down 35-14, BYU quarterback John Beck responded with scoring passes to Jonny Harline and Watkins, whose 9-yard scoring grab with 5:35 left cut Cal's lead to seven points. The Cougars (6-6) got the ball back with a chance to force overtime, but Beck's arm was hit by Cal lineman Phillip Mbakogu, as Daymeion Hughes intercepted the wobbling pass to seal the Bears' second bowl victory in three postseason trips.

Watkins finished with five catches for 93 yards. In this his senior season, Watkins was among the leading receivers for the Cougars with 49 receptions for 678 and a club-leading 10 TDs.

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