Sammy Watkins to be inducted into Clemson University's 2024 athletic Hall of Fame class
One of Lee County’s greatest high school football players is now a Hall of Famer.
On Thursday, Clemson University announced Fort Myers native Sammy Watkins as one of nine members of its 2024 Hall of Fame class. He will officially be inducted on Nov. 2.
The South Fort Myers High graduate was a three-time, first-team All-American as a wide receiver for the Tigers from 2011-13, one of just five players in Clemson history to accomplish that feat.
In the 2014 NFL Draft, Watkins was selected No. 4 overall by the Buffalo Bills, the highest-ever for a Southwest Florida native. He won a Super Bowl playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.
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Here are some additional facts about Watkins and his football career.
How good was Sammy Watkins at South Fort Myers High School?
Watkins ended his career with the Wolfpack as Lee County’s all-time leading wide receiver, finishing with 133 receptions, 2,997 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns in three varsity seasons. As a senior, he helped lead South Fort Myers to the Class 3A state semifinals, hauling in 54 catches for 1,268 yards and 12 scores. Also during his senior year, Watkins won a Class 2A state track and field title in the 200 meters with a time of 21.11 seconds.
A five-star recruit, Watkins was a top-5 ranked wide receiver prospect in the country and signed with Clemson.
Watkins is already a member of a hall of fame, being indicted in the Lee County Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
Where does Sammy Watkins rank among college wide receivers?
Watkins made a huge impact at Clemson in 2011, catching 82 passes for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the nation in receiving yards per game, all-purpose yards, and touchdowns while also breaking 11 freshman records for the Tigers. Watkins became only the fourth ever true freshman to be named an Associated Press first-team All-American, joining gridiron luminaries Herschel Walker, Marshall Faulk and Adrian Peterson.
Watkins missed three games his sophomore season but still managed 57 receptions for 708 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior in 2013, he bounced back to catch 101 passes for 1,464 yards and 12 touchdowns. Watkins was named the MVP of the 2014 Orange Bowl after setting school records for receptions (16) and receiving yards (227) in a 40-35 win over No. 6 Ohio State.
Watkins entered the NFL Draft prior to his senior season. He finished his Clemson career No. 1 in receiving yards (3,391), tied for first in touchdowns (27) and second in receptions (240).
How many NFL teams did Sammy Watkins play for?
Watkins spent his first three NFL seasons with the Bills, the last of which saw him limited to just eight games because of a broken foot. After spending the 2017 season with the Los Angeles Rams, Watkins signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Watkins put together a memorable postseason run in his second season with the Chiefs, with seven catches for 135 yards and a touchdown in a 35-24 win over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game. In Super Bowl LIV, he caught five passes for 98 yards, including a 38-yard catch on the game-winning drive in a 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
In 2021, Watkins signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens and then joined the Green Bay Packers in 2022. The Packers released him in December and Watkins rejoined the Ravens for three games. He did not play in the NFL in 2023 but did have a workout with the Indianapolis Colts last November. In his nine NFL seasons, Watkins has a total of 364 catches for 5,384 yards and 34 touchdowns in 111 regular season games. In the playoffs, he posted 27 catches for 512 yards and one touchdown in eight postseason games.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Sammy Watkins selected for Clemson Hall of Fame
