Lusby, MD – Over the long weekend, Juan Watkins took his official visit to Ohio University. He left there Sunday with a commitment to play defensive end for the next four years. He leaves Patuxent with an amazing legacy. All three years of his varsity football career, he played in a region final, winning one in 2015 en route to a state title. In his three years, he played in 38 games, and totaled 278 tackles and 19 sacks. Recently, he sat down with theBayNet.com to give us an inside look into his decision.
TBN: After your senior season, the accolades piled up. Among others you were named second team All Met, Crab Bowl Selection, Maryland All-22 selection, and South Maryland Athletic Conference All-Star Game. What is your proudest achievement?
Watkins: To be honest, I’m proud of all those accolades, but the proudest I’ve felt was the state championship in 2015.
TBN: What is your favorite memory of football at Patuxent High?
JW: To be honest, it is from my JV year. Two of my teammates got into it in a muddy practice. One of them pancaked the other into the mud, and then from there, it was on. Every play was to see who could knock who into the mud. Just a really fun day that stood out in my mind.
TBN: Upon your commitment to Ohio, you are now the third D1-FBS recruit in school history. How does that feel knowing the success of the prior two–Robert McClain and Terry Caulley?
JW: I didn’t really think about it too much. I guess it feels good knowing that I come from a school with such athletes. Just God-given talents to get me this far and hopefully further.
TBN: What sold you on Ohio while you were out there?
JW: The energy of everybody, and the feel up there. The campus was beautiful, and that was the first time I met the coaches and we just clicked immediately. I was sold on Ohio instantly.
TBN: What’s next for Juan ‘Vonnie’ Watkins?
JW: My ultimate goal is to get to the NFL, so working my tail off to get to that point.
Watkins is one of four D1 commits in SMAC that graduate this year. The other three are Malik Burns and James Tunstall of Lackey, and Keisean Wilson of North Point. Burns is a verbal to Temple, Tunstall is a verbal to Connecticut and Wilson is a verbal to Old Dominion.