Eric Watts Bio
Eric Watts (born October 1, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UConn Huskies before signing with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2024. From Sumter, South Carolina, Watts attended Sumter High School, where he excelled in both football and basketball, earning significant recognition during his high school career.
Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 126 kilograms, Watts brings rare size and length to the defensive end position. After working his way onto the Jets’ initial 53-man roster as a rookie, he has continued his professional development through stints on the practice squad and active roster during the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Eric Watts was born on October 1, 2000, in Sumter, South Carolina, and grew up in the same community where he would later become a local sports standout. His early years in Sumter helped shape his athletic identity, as the region’s strong football tradition provided a steady pipeline of competitive opportunities for young athletes.
At Sumter High School, Watts played both football and basketball, balancing two demanding schedules while developing the physical tools that would later define his professional profile. He earned selection to the Offense–Defense All-American Bowl in football, an honor that highlighted his growing reputation among national scouting circles. During his senior season, he recorded 8 1/2 sacks and helped lead Sumter to ten consecutive victories, capping a high school career that also included county and region championships.
Following his senior year, Watts committed to play college football for the UConn Huskies, choosing the University of Connecticut over other suitors. His combination of size, athleticism, and production made him a priority recruit for the program’s defensive front.
Path to American Football
Watts’s route to professional football followed a familiar developmental arc for elite defensive linemen, beginning with high school dominance and continuing through the college ranks. His standout senior campaign at Sumter, combined with his All-American Bowl invitation, established him as a prospect with NFL-caliber measurables before he ever arrived on a college campus.
At UConn, Watts transitioned quickly into a meaningful role on the defensive line, contributing from his very first season. His steady progression through multiple college seasons allowed him to refine his pass-rushing technique and run-defense fundamentals while adjusting to the speed and complexity of FBS-level competition.
By the end of his senior year, Watts had built a resume strong enough to earn invitations to the 2024 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. These events served as the final showcases of his college career and ultimately connected him with his first professional opportunity in the NFL.
Eric Watts Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Eric Watts began seeing extended action at UConn as a true freshman in 2019, appearing in all 12 games that season and totaling 30 tackles. The early playing time gave him valuable experience against top-level college competition and helped accelerate his development along the defensive line.
After UConn’s 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Watts returned in 2021 and played 10 games while accumulating 39 tackles. By his third season of action in 2022, he had grown into one of the team’s most disruptive defenders, posting 49 tackles, leading the Huskies in both tackles-for-loss (10) and sacks (7.0), and adding two blocked kicks and two forced fumbles. As a senior in 2023, he recorded 34 tackles and two sacks before participating in the 2024 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.
New York Jets Breakthrough (2024–Present)
Watts signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024, beginning his professional career in the NFL. His strong showing throughout the offseason program and training camp earned him a spot on the Jets’ initial 53-man roster, a notable achievement for a player who had not heard his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft.
On July 17, 2024, Watts was also selected by the Memphis Showboats in the fifth round of the 2024 UFL draft, providing him with an additional professional avenue. He focused his efforts on the Jets, however, and continued to develop within the organization.
On August 26, 2025, Watts was waived by the Jets as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. His perseverance paid off on December 10, when he was promoted back to the active roster, signaling the franchise’s continued confidence in his development as a defensive end.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Watts plays with the length and leverage that NFL defensive coordinators covet at the end position. His college production in tackles-for-loss and blocked kicks suggests a player who combines disruptive quickness with the size to hold up against the run, traits the Jets look to cultivate as he matures within their defensive scheme.
Notable Events and Milestones
Watts’s journey from undrafted free agent to an initial 53-man roster spot stands as one of the defining early milestones of his professional career. His selection to the 2024 Senior Bowl and invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine further validated his college résumé, while his path from practice squad back to the active roster in December 2025 reflects his resilience and continued growth within the Jets organization.
Eric Watts Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Eric Watts’s family background remains limited, and specific details about parents, siblings, or extended family have not been widely reported. His upbringing in Sumter, South Carolina, however, provided the foundation for his athletic development and remains a defining part of his personal story.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Eric Watts with the New York Jets. After making the initial 53-man roster out of training camp, he was waived on August 26 as part of final cuts and quickly re-signed to the practice squad on August 27, keeping him within the organization as he continued to refine his craft.
Watts’s promotion to the active roster on December 10, 2025, marked a significant step in his professional trajectory. The move reflected both his development behind the scenes and the Jets’ willingness to invest in a young defensive end with rare physical tools.
As the 2025 season progressed, Watts remained focused on establishing himself as a rotational contributor along the Jets’ defensive front. His combination of size, prior production, and renewed opportunity positioned him to build momentum heading into the next phase of his NFL career.