UK round 1 of NFL combine

Day 2 of the NFL combine is nearly in the books with quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs wrapping up their on the field drills. Yesterday the offensive linemen took to the field and one of the competitors was one of the two UK participants. Menelik Watson is an offensive linemen from Florida State whom originated from Manchester. On Saturday he completed his combine drills including the individual drills and the forty yard run.

Watson's background is a complicated one and one which could easily be a typical a story written in Hollywood. He comes from a single parent home deeply below the poverty line growing up on one of the most crime ridden areas of the UK, it was a tough back ground. Watson was always determined to get out of this situation through sports he has pursued careers in soccer and basketball none of which unfortunately worked out.

Then two years ago when he faced a dilemma already having a young daughter he had one final opportunity try football a sport he had never played or go back to Manchester and raises his family. His body has come straight out of an NFL offensive line factory, he is 6 feet 5 and weights 310 lbs. If you could draw up an NFL tackle it would look like Watson.

What makes Watson stand out at the combine is his lack of football experience. He has only played two competitive years of football and many of these players are coming of double that just at college. This year Watson started every game at right tackle which in its self is pretty remarkable to get a starting after just one year at a junior college the year before. In that one year his ability and athleticism just stood out. He has fantastic quick feet which makes him ideally suited to the tackle position, great athleticism and movement for such a big man and has good strength. This raw physical ability has had NFL scouts drawling , if this is what he is able to achieve after just two years imagine what he could achieve in an NFL program.

At the combine yesterday many scouts expected to see him blow it up with all this athleticism previously mentioned. However yesterday he appeared like a rabbit in head lights and froze a little on stage. He looked a bit slow during the forty and then in individual drills his footwork looked a bit slow and sloppy. While this is  not a good thing its not the end of the world, what will count for Watson is how he interviews with teams. He needs to show teams that he has a decent football IQ, is willing to learn and all his potential can be fulfilled.

What this experience can be used for is a learning experience for other UK athletes who enter the NFL and get the opportunity to attend the combine like Tom Wort who will tomorrow. The combine is very American and something in the UK we have nothing like. I still believe although Watson has not had the best weekend he will still get drafted in the 2nd round. He is a bit of a development project who may see some playing time in year 1 but more than likely it will be in year 2.