2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mississippi State LB Nathaniel Watson

Nathaniel Watson

Mississippi State

Report Grade

Position Rank

8

Overall Rank

139

Nathaniel Watson

Mississippi State

Player Comp

Projection

Height

6016

Weight

240

40 Time

4.58*

Class

Redshirt Senior

* Projected

LB

Combine Measurables

Arm Length

N/A

Hand Size

N/A

Wingspan

N/A

3 Cone

N/A

Vertical

N/A

Broad Jump

N/A

Bench Press

N/A

Shuttle

N/A

Career Stats

Year	School	Class	Games	Solo Tackles	Assisted Tackles	Total Tackles	Tackles For Loss	Sacks	Interceptions	Passes Defended	Forced Fumbles
2018	Mississippi State	FR	2	2	1	3	0.0	0.0	0	0	0
2019	Mississippi State	FR	1	1	1	2	1.0	0.0	0	0	0
2020	Mississippi State	SO	10	15	24	39	3.0	0.0	0	1	0
2021	Mississippi State	JR	12	33	50	83	6.0	5.0	0	1	0
2022	Mississippi State	SR	13	51	62	113	12.0	6.0	1	1	1
2023	Mississippi State	SR	12	35	102	137	13.0	10.0	1	2	2

Strengths

Reads the quarterback’s eyes and tracks laterally very well
Fluid hip movement throughout his back pedal to change direction quickly across the field
Strong ability to find the ball in traffic and attack in traffic efficiently

Weaknesses

Can get drawn in a bit too far at the line of scrimmage, opening up huge gaps for offense
Needs to improve use of hands at the point of attack to shed blocks and attack the ball
Would like to see more consistent patience being used at the line of scrimmage

Bio

2024 NFL Draft: Nathaniel Watson Draft Profile and Scouting Report

Nathaniel Watson appeared in two games during the 2018 season for Mississippi State, resulting in a redshirt. He appeared in seven games for the Bulldogs in 2019, but failed to make a significant impact on the field as we was used primary as a reserve player. However, over the next four seasons, Nathaniel Watson would not only become one of the more impactful defenders on the Bulldogs, but in the SEC, too. He received All-American and All-SEC honors, as well as a Conerly Trophy and Butkus Award Finalist. Watson received an invite to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Nathaniel Watson 40 Time

Projected 40 Time: 4.58 seconds

Nathaniel Watson began playing college ball for Mississippi State in 2018, although he spent his first two seasons as a reserve player. Watson plays the inside linebacker position for the Bulldogs. He possesses solid height and weight for the linebacker position when compared to the league average in the NFL. Our projected 40 time of 4.58 seconds is several tenths quicker than the average for the position.

Nathaniel Watson reads the quarterbacks eyes and tracks the ball laterally very well. Displays a high football IQ against the run to put himself in a position to make a play on the ball consistently. Shows to have fluid hip movement when dropped into coverage to change direction with ease and attack the ball across the field. He does a tremendous job at finding the ball in traffic and attacking the ball carrier through traffic at a very high level.

However, he can be a bit too aggressive at the line of scrimmage, getting sucked in, opening up huge gaps for the offense to operate in. As a result, I’d like him to display more patience at the line of scrimmage to let the play develop and mature before attacking the ball. At the point of attack, his hand usage is marginal, resulting in struggles to shed blocks and attack the ball.

Recruiting Bio

Nathaniel Watson graduated from Maplesville High School in Maplesville, Alabama, where he played football for head coach James Hubert. Coming out of high school, Watson was a consensus three-star recruiting prospect, according to all of the major outlets. Nathaniel Watson scored an 86.27 in the On3 Industry Ranking, which put him in the 700’s nationally.

Prior to his commitment to Mississippi State, Nathaniel Watson had offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Troy, and Bowling Green. Watson attended camps and had several official visits, but committed to Mississippi State in August of 2017. He singed his letter of intent in February of 2018, with an enrollment to Mississippi State coming in May of 2018.