College Corner: Hampton Wide Receiver Andre Watkins

This was supposed to be Andre Watkins’ year.

The graduate has waited patiently for his turn the past two seasons with the football team at Hampton University. Watkins had to battle through an injury and sit behind several talented underclassmen. As his junior year beckoned, Watkins was ready to be a key contributor.

“This is the first time we have a spread offense,” Watkins said.  “We were going to go eight deep and we have a lot of freshman. I just knew it was my time.”

His time, however, was cut short for another season. Watkins was going through a workout during the preseason when every player’s nightmare came true.

“We were doing one-on-ones during practice,” said Watkins. “The quarterback threw the ball at my back shoulder. I caught the ball.  When the defender tried to shake the ball, his knee landed on my knee and my knee went in the opposite direction.”

The result of the play was a torn ACL for Watkins, who is beginning the long road back to recovery. Watkins is scheduled to have surgery and could be out anywhere from four months to a year. He has already begun his rehabilitation process and is confident he will be back on the field in 2012.

Watkins has no regrets about his decision to attend Hampton. The Virginia school proved to be the right fit with academics as well as athletics. Watkins was also quite familiar with the university.

“I had full rides to a lot of other schools,” Watkins said. “My cousin played here during my senior year.I would come down to visit him and talk to the coaches. The main reason for me picking Hampton was feeling comfortable with the coach at the time and feeling comfortable with the school.”

Watkins credits the coaching staff at Spring-Ford for his football development. There was a strong chemistry between Watkins and the coaches and a playbook which fit Watkins’ talents perfectly.

“My coaches in high school were really supportive,” said Watkins. “They understood more of the newer level of the game and how it goes by faster. We could relate. There was a good understanding with the coaches and me. We had a really good team. I enjoyed my high school years.”

Watkins had 38 catches and eight touchdowns during his senior season at Spring-Ford. He also accumulated 759 receiving yards in his final season. His catches and receiving yard-totals set school records that year. Watkins was also a standout in basketball and track at Spring-Ford, but he had his sites set on football in college.

“I had a couple of scouts talk to me,” Watkins said.  “But it never really followed through. One school wanted me to do football and track, but I didn’t have any interest in doing track in college.”

Watkins was a redshirt when he first arrived at Hampton. In his first season of action, Watkins appeared in two games, but a hamstring injury sidelined Watkins the following year. With his junior year cut short by anther injury, Watkins is now focused on getting back on the field for his senior season.

“I’m still pretty far behind,” said Watkins. “Hopefully I’ll get my surgery next Wednesday at the earliest. They’re saying anywhere from four months to a year. Since the injury, I’ve been doing rehab every day. If I’m able to come back next year, I have a lot of confidence in myself.”