Watts

“I have a passion for the game of football. I just love to compete and I love to score,” he said.

“I think he fits best in track,” said Henderson who mentors Watts in both sports. “Any thing you can think of he can do it,” Henderson noted.

Statistically, Henderson wins the argument. Watts recently set the school record with a 142’ 6” throw in the discus, consistently puts the shot over 46 feet, high jumps 6’4” and long jumps 22’6.”

“I’m going after the school record (23’3”) in the long jump too,” Watts admitted.

Watts earned All District and Second Team All Regional honors in football but was overshadowed by All State wide receiver Emmett Brown on the opposite end of the Indians’ formations.

Philosophically, Watts wins the argument. There have been no offers yet by universities interested in Watts as a track athlete, but both Old Dominion and Ferrum University football coaches have come calling. Watts would have to walk on at ODU but, “they label me as an athlete. I could play wide receiver, defensive back or even running back,” he said. I could earn my way on the team and eventually get some scholarship money. That would be a big help to my folks”

Coach Henderson agrees that Watts is “one heck of a pure athlete” and although Watts was also a key performer on the Powhatan basketball team;

“I played basketball just to keep in shape,” he says. He does not want to be remembered as just an athlete.

“Ten years from now I’ll have graduated from college and started my own business. I’m smart. I scored 1650 on the SATs,” he said while sheepishly admitting that his 2.4 GPA indicated he hadn’t always applied his natural intelligence. Business Management is his favorite subject and he will miss his teachers and coaches equally after graduation. The 2005 Football State Championship Game at Liberty University is his best high school memory.

Watts is looking forward to the next challenge.

“I’m ready to be out of high school, ready to be out of Powhatan. I’m ready for college life,” he stated. At the same time he appears to have adopted his parents’ advice to focus on education.

“Education is important. I’ll need to study and maintain my focus in order to keep my grades up.”

He also gives himself advice.

“Try your best. If you want something be willing to go thorough the process you need to in order to achieve it.”

Does that indicate an unfulfilled dream?

“Maybe the NFL,” he quietly admitted.