American professional footballer Sammy Watkins joined the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in 2018. He became a professional after the 2014 NFL Draft where he finished fourth in the first round of the Buffalo Bills. In addition to his three years with the Bills, Sammy Watkins also spent seven months with the Los Angeles Rams before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2018.
Sammy Watkins Biography (Age)
Samuel Benjamin Watkins IV was born on 14 June 1993 in Fort Myers, Florida, the son of Nicole McMiller and Sammy Watkins III. He went to school at South Fort Myers High School, where he competed in football, basketball, and athletics as a triple athlete. He earned a reputation as one of Florida’s top sprinters when he won the 200-meter run in the AA State Championships in his senior year. At the 2011 Tarpon Invitational, he also won the title in the 100-meter competition.
As expected, Sammy Watkins was also a football star in high school. The talented boy had 33 receptions in his second year for 537 yards and 10 points. In his junior season, he was called to the first all-state team when he scored 46 caught passes for 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns. In his senior year, the talented underdog collected 54 catches for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns, a feat that also earned him the title of first all-state team.
Watkins ended his high school career with a record 133 catches for 2,997 yards and 36 touchdowns, the best receiver record Lee County has ever set. He also participated in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The talented football star, who was rated a 5-star recruit, finished third among the most promising candidates in the United States. In November 2010, he finally settled at Clemson University.
ALSO READ: Joey Bosa Bio, Career Stats, Brother, Salary, Net Worth, And Other Facts
As a 2011 rookie, he caught 82 passes for 1219 yards and 12 touchdowns. In his first 7 games, he broke 11 Clemson Tigers freshman records and led the nation in per-game receiving yards, all-purpose yards, and touchdowns alike. This outstanding achievement earned him the title of All-American Freshman, and he was selected as an All-American on AP’s first team and was only the fourth true rookie in ACC history to receive this honor.
Watkins stayed in top form as he had 57 receptions for 708 yards and 3 touchdowns in his second season. In his junior season, he increased his performance by one notch with 101 receptions for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the Clemson Tigers to a victorious Orange Bowl in 2014 where he set an individual Orange Bowl record of 16 receptions for 227 yards and was named MVP of the game. Watkins announced his decision to participate in the 2014 NFL Draft in January 2014, waiving his final year of college qualification. The talented player was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the draft as the 4th overall winner, the first time in 10 years that he has been selected by the Bills.
Career Stats
In his rookie season with the Buffalo Bills, Sammy Watkins recorded 65 receptions over 982 yards and 6 touchdown passes, setting a new franchise record for receptions and receiving yards. Although his second season (2015) with the Bills was severely affected by a calf injury, Watkins finished the season with 60 receptions over 1,047 yards and 9 touchdown passes. The talented wide receiver had five 100-yard receiving games out of a total of 13 played this season and also set new career records for receiving yards and touchdowns.
Sammy Watkins’ injury woes returned in the 2016 season, in which he played only 8 games, and he ended the season with 28 receptions for 430 yards and 2 touchdowns. After his 4-year rookie deal expired in May 2017, he became a freelancer as the Buffalo Bills did not renew his contract. In addition to a selection for the sixth round of the 2018 draft, Sammy Watkins was sent from the Bills to the Los Angeles Ram in exchange for cornerback E. J. Gaines and a draft pick of the second round 2018.
In his 2017 season at the Los Angeles Ram, Watkins played 15 games in which he recorded 39 receptions for 593 yards and 8 touchdown receptions. In March 2018, the talented wide receiver signed a $48 million 3-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
ALSO READ: Royce Freeman Biography, Career Stats, Height, Weight, Age, and Other Facts
Injury
After a great rookie season with the Buffalo Bills, Sammy Watkins was plagued by a series of injuries in the following years, which severely affected his playing time. The talented player’s ability to keep fit became a major topic of discussion after his move to the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2018. On August 6, 2018, the talented wide receiver was reportedly unable to complete the day’s training due to a minor hip injury. The hip injury dates back to his time with the Buffalo Bills, for which he underwent surgery. However, according to officials at the Chiefs, the fact that Watkins had to leave training early was only a precautionary measure and did not represent a significant setback.
Sammy Watkins Height and Other Body Measurements
Sammy Watkins stands at an impressive height of 185 cm (6 feet 1 inch). He has a bodyweight of 96 kg (211 lbs).
