Todd Watkins

Watkins Video Highlights at BYU

Watkins debuts with Raiders

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OAKLAND (11-4-08) – Former Helix High and Grossmont College standout TODD WATKINS has been on the Oakland Raiders' inactive roster list every game this season.

Finally, he got a break when the Raiders hosted the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday (Nov. 2). Watkins made his long awaited regular season playing debut that afternoon, serving as a backup wide receiver and as a member of the Raiders kick return team.

Watkins never got his hands on the ball, but not many of his teammates did either as Atlanta won 24-0.

Watkins has been on NFL rosters for three seasons on various lists, but it was his first game of actual participation after spending time with the Cardinals and Falcons organizations.

Oakland's Todd Watkins with one of his exhibition season-best eight receptions. (Courtesy photo by Tony Gonzales)

Both are expected to see action in what would've been a dull Monday Night Football opener, when the Raiders (4-12 in 2007) host AFC West rival Denver Broncos (7-9) in the second game of an ESPN doubleheader.

Watkins, a seventh-round pick by Arizona in 2006, spent the previous two seasons on the practice squad for the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons. After signing with Oakland in the off-season, he proved to be one of the team's top receivers during both training camp and exhibition games, leading the Raiders with seven receptions for 88 yards in the preseason.

It was Watkins' "second attempt" to make the Raiders -- although he didn't know it. (See feature story HERE, courtesy of InsideBayArea.com).

Schilens, a seventh-round pick, placed second to Watkins with six catches for 94 yards in the preseason, demonstrating he was both physical enough and fast enough to make the team -- both question marks when he played for the Aztecs.

Receiver had been the main area of concern all training camp for the Raiders, who enter the season with just two proven players on the roster. Starters Javon Walker and Ronald Curry have had some success in their careers when healthy, but Johnnie Lee Higgins is the only backup to have even played in an NFL game.

Todd Watkins makes the catch during Oakland Raiders mini-camp in May 2008, under the watchful eyes of receivers coach James Lofton (far left) and head coach Lane Kiffin (center in background).

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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.

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 Sept. 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.

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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.

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GLENDALE, Ariz. (7-6-06) -- Former Grossmont College All-American TODD WATKINS became one of two draft picks to sign with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday (July 5). Watkins, a seventh-round selection out of Brigham Young University, joined outside linebacker Brandon Johnson (5th round) of Louisville to place their signature on contracts with the NFL ballclub.

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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.