As Andre Watson Jr. enters his freshman year at St. Joe's Prep High School in Philadelphia, he brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the football field. At 5-foot-5 and 145 pounds, Watson has already made a name for himself in youth football, playing various positions, including running back, quarterback, cornerback, safety, linebacker, and slot. 

Versatility on the Field

Watson's favorite position is running back, where he excels at reading the field and creating lanes. "I love being able to line up in the backfield, read the field, and create lanes with my eyes," Watson says. Despite his smaller stature, he uses his size to his advantage. "I have always been a smaller back, but it helps me because I don't need as much room to make a play, and I really like blocking in pass protection, too."

Inspiration and Role Models

Watson's passion for football was ignited by watching highlights of Reggie Bush and Christian McCaffrey. "I watched a bunch of Reggie Bush and Christian McCaffrey highlights, and just college football and the environment excited me," he explains. The atmosphere of college football games particularly captivated him. "The NFL is a goal, but I really fell in love with the atmosphere of college football games and always pretended I was playing in the Rose Bowl during my games."

His role models extend beyond professional athletes. "I have a lot, to be honest, but I would say Reggie Bush, Christian McCaffrey, Pete Carroll, Brian Hartline, and Torrey Smith for professional. I would say Tyseer Denmark and all the guys I train with. Bryan Haire, Dion Shaw, Matt Millard, Irv Mims, Dave Klemic, and Lovell Kosh. They train me, but it's not always just serious with them. I can talk to them like family, and they also teach me about things off the field."

Goals for Freshman Season

Watson has clear objectives for his freshman season at St. Joe's Prep. "My main goals for my freshman season are to get used to my workload at school and find a good schedule to balance my time. My second goal is to go 1-0 every week, and my third is to take the next steps in being developed. I want to understand everything about the system and learn what it takes to the next level. I want to build relationships with my teammates and coaches, too. We'll spend much time together for the next four years, so I want to get to know everyone and become close."

Balancing Academics and Athletics

Watson prioritizes balancing academics and athletics. "I plan on focusing on both equally but keeping school first. When I'm in school, when I have homework, or when I need to study for exams, I will be committed to that. When it's time to focus on athletics, I will be committed to that. I know everyone says it, but it's just about discipline and execution."

Strengths and Areas for Improvement

Watson's most vital skills on the field include his attention to detail, vision, speed, blocking, and ability to make big plays. "I think being underestimated for so long made me work twice as hard as everyone else, but that helped me in the long run because I don't have to think as hard while I'm playing," he notes. "Much of my training is game situation movements, so it's all muscle memory, and I can play off instincts. I study a lot, and my coaches break down the game to me at a college and pro level, so the game slows down for me when I'm on the field."

He aims to improve his strength to compete at the high school level. "High school is a different level, but especially with the competition we face, so to stay on the field, I have to be able to break tackles and block bigger guys."

Overcoming Challenges

One significant challenge Watson faced was playing with the flu during a playoff game against Sharon Hill while with the Avon Grove Wildcats. "My biggest challenge was having the flu for a playoff game against Sharon Hill. They were undefeated, and we lost to them earlier in the season, but I wanted to win so bad," he recalls. Despite his determination, his coach took his helmet to prevent him from worsening his condition. "We lost 7-0, and I was down about it for a while and mad they wouldn't let me play, but after a while, I appreciated him because he put his players before winning, and it taught me brotherhood, which is what the Prep is about."

Looking Forward to High School Football

Watson is most excited about the experiences and memories that high school football will bring. "I look forward to the memories. Football is what I love to do, and I plan on playing for a long time, but I honestly want to play under the Friday Night Lights, travel with the team to away games, and have each other's back when we are considered the 'bad guys,' and just everything. I feel like I was starting 6u, and now little league is over, so I want to enjoy every moment of high school football."

All State Preps will be keeping tabs on Watson’s high school football journey.