Josh Watson

Photo by: Tommy Joe Waido

Jan-Phillip Bombek, Josh Watson, Tre Thomas

Photo by: Nick Monaghan

Photo by: Tomas Redondo

Photo by: Abbie Parr

Josh Watson vs. Northern Colorado 9-17-16

Photo by: Tommy Joe Waido

Height:
6-2
Weight:
235
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown:
Blue Springs, Mo.
High School:
Blue Springs South HS

Career Highs:

Tackles: 17 (twice) - Air Force in 2017 and 2018

2018 (Senior): Started all 12 games at middle linebacker and led the Rams with 131 tackles (57 solo), including 8.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack ... voted second-team All-Mountain West by vote of coaches and media, and Phil Steele, and second-team All-Colorado by the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter ... also added four QB hurries, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries ... 131 tackles were the most by a CSU player since Max Morgan had 134 in 2013 ... finished career with 367 career tackles, sixth-most in school history. ... voted by his teammates to serve as a season captain, along with senior safety Jordan Fogal, RS-sophomore fullback Adam Prentice and RS-sophomore quarterback Collin Hill ... earned preseason All-MW recognition from Lindy's (2nd team), Phil Steele (2nd team) and Athlon (3rd team) ... finished career tied for fourth in CSU history with 51 games played (with Wyatt Bryan, Trent Matthews and Tre Thomas)

Recorded 13 tackles in season opener against Hawai'i (Aug. 25).
- Also 0.5 TFLs, one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
Led CSU in game against Colorado (Sept. 1) with 15 tackles, 8 unassisted and 7 assisted.
Had 12 tackles (three unassisted and nine assisted) in winning game over Arkansas (Sept. 8).
Tied for the team lead in tackles with 10 (6 solo, 4 assists), including a tackle for a loss, in win over New Mexico (Oct. 13).
Led the team with a career-high 17 tackles vs. Wyoming (Oct. 26), notching his sixth game of the season with 10 or more tackles.
Had five tackles (1 TFL) vs. Utah State (Nov. 17) to move into sixth in CSU history in career tackles with 350, passing former teammate Max Morgan (348, 2011-14). Entered the game tied with Aaron Davis (2011-14) with 345.
Tied his career high with 17 tackles in Thanksgiving game at Air Force (Nov. 22), matching his previous high from 2017 vs. Air Force (Oct. 28).

2017 (Junior): Played in all 13 games and started 12, recording a team-high 109 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and seven pass breakups... Through Week 13, his nine total pass defenses ranked first in the Mountain West and tied for fourth in the country among non defensive backs.

Intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and recorded nine tackles in the season-opening win over Oregon State (Aug. 26).
Led the team with nine tackles, including seven solos, in the game against Colorado (Sept. 1).
Recorded seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup in the win over Abilene Christian (Sept. 9).
Tied for the team lead with seven tackles at No. 1 Alabama (Sept. 16).
Made three solo tackles, recovered a fumble and recorded a career-high three pass breakups in the win at Hawai'i (Sept. 30).
Recorded a team-high-tying seven tackles, 1.0 tackle ofr loss and two pass breakups in the win against Nevada (Oct. 14).
- Broke up Nevada's fourth-down pass in the final minute of a one-possession game which secured a victory for the Rams.
Logged a team-high nine tackles including a number of pivotal third-down stops in the win at New Mexico (Oct. 20).
Made a career-high 17 tackles, including eight solos, against Air Force (Oct. 28).
- His 17 tackles tied for the 15th-most by any FBS player in a single game this season.
Recorded a team-high 11 tackles against Wyoming (Nov. 4).
Tallied eight tackles, 1.0 sack and intercepted a pass in the end zone in the win over San Jose State (Nov. 18).
Despite playing in just the second half, made six tackles and logged a sack against Marshall in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 16).

2016 (Sophomore): Played in all 13 games and started 11, recording 90 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries... his 90 tackles ranked second on the team and his five quarterback hurries led all Rams.

Recorded eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, as well as two quarterback hurries in a win over UTSA (Sept. 10).
Made 10 tackles with two tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in a win over Northern Colorado (Sept. 17).
Recorded a career-high 12 tackles at Minneosta (Sept. 24).
Tied his career high with 12 tackles against Wyoming (Oct. 1), a game in which he also recorded a sack and two quarterback hurries.
Recorded 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss, at Air Force (Nov. 12).
Logged a team-high 10 tackles and a quarterback hurry in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. Idaho (Dec. 22).

2015 (Freshman): Played in all 13 games, recording 37 tackles with six tackles for a loss and one sack.

Made his collegiate debut in a season-opening victory over Savannah State (9/5), tallying a career-most nine sacks including three for loss.
Had six stops in the Rocky Mountain Showdown vs. Colorado (Sept. 19).
Posted his first career sack vs. Boise State (Oct. 10), a seven-yard loss that forced a punt on the next play.

2014 (Redshirt): Redshirted during his first collegiate season.

High School:

Is a 2014 graduate of Blue Springs South High School in Blue Springs, Mo.
Holds Blue Springs South records for tackles in a season (177 in 2013) and tackles in a game (31 vs. Fort Osage on Sept. 6, 2013).
As a senior in 2013, named first-team All-Missouri for his performance at linebacker.
Earned the 2013 Mike Jones Award, given annually to the top Missouri linebacker among all Class 6 participants.
Named first-team All-Suburban Gold in 2013 after earning second-team honors in 2012.
Captain of the Jaguars' football team as a junior and senior.
As a sophomore in 2011, helped the Jaguars to their first state title since 2006 with a 40-37 victory over Christian Brothers.
Head football coach was Greg Oder.
Played with former Colorado State running back Donnell Alexander at Blue Springs South.
Also lettered four years in track & field and once in wrestling.
Committed to CSU over reported offers from Army, Navy and South Dakota State.
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals and Scout.

Personal: Born May 20, 1996 in Kansas City, Mo. ... Hometown is Blue Springs, Mo. ... Parents are Steven and Stephanie Watson and Mona Smith... Father, Steven, played football at Arkansas-Pine Bluff... Has one older sister, Erin, and two younger sisters, Joy and Zoe... Graduated with his bachelor's degree in communication studies in Dec. 2018.