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DEREK WATSON
Running Back
1999 / 2001
Williamston, SC
Biography
South Carolina’s Mr. Football in 1998 and an All-State running back, Watson originally committed to Tennessee before Lou Holtz convinced him to come on board with the Gamecocks over the Vols, Georgia, N.C. State and Clemson. He had an immediate impact, rushing for 118 yards in his debut, playing in a torrential downpour at N.C. State. Watson didn’t break 100 yards again that year, but showed flashes of his talent. He was the full-time starter in 2000 and earned second team All-SEC honors from The Sporting News. He opened the season with a bang, picking up 93 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Georgia and then torching Eastern Michigan for 215 yards. Watson would also break the century mark against Kentucky (149), Arkansas (136), Vanderbilt (128) and Clemson (150). Watson missed the Outback Bowl that season due to suspension, but came back as the starter in 2001. He would have two 100-yard games: Kentucky (135, including a 58 yard run that provided the winning touchdown) and Vanderbilt (105). He was suspended before the 2002 season and transferred to South Carolina State. He had a tryout with the Patriots (2003) and was with the Buccaneers in 2005 and played two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL (2009-10).
Prior Schools
SchoolLocation


Roster Listings
YearRosterNumPosHtWtYrGmsGS
1999 Media Guide RB 6-1 205 Fr
1999 Fall 1999 22 RB 6-1 205 Fr 5 5
2000 Fall 2000 22 RB 6-1 210 So
2000 Tennessee 2000 22 RB 6-1 210 So 9 9
2001 Spring 2001 22 RB 6-1 212 Jr
2001 Fall 2001 22 RB 6-1 210 Jr 10 10
Depth Chart Appearances
DescriptionPositionRank
1999 vs Georgia Tailback 2nd String
2000 Media Guide Tailback Co-Starter
2002 Outback Bowl Kick Off Returns Co-Starter
2002 Outback Bowl Tailback Starter
Honors
AwardYear
1998 Shrine Bowl
2000 All-SEC 2nd Team (Sporting News)
Recruiting Rankings and Honors
SourcePositionRank
Athlon PreSeason National Top 294
Sporting News PreSeason Honorable Mention RB
Passing
YearAttComPctYdsYPATDIntI%3D Att3D Conv%NEWSRtg
2000 1 0 0.0 0 0.00 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.00
Tot 1 0 0.0 0 0.00 0 0 0.0 0 0.00
Passing by Receiver
YearQBRec Throws Com% Yds 1D TD Success Rate
2000
James Adkisson 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0.00
Rushing
YearAttYdsAvgTD
1999 111 394 3.5 0
2000 187 1066 5.7 11
2001 139 618 4.4 5
Tot 437 2078 4.8 16
Rushing from Play-by-Play
YearAttYdsAvg1DNeg RushNR%Stuff%10+ Yds10+ %20+ Yds3D Conv%TD
1999 92 339 3.7 15 19 56.52 33.7 9 9.8 2 62.5 0
2000 186 1067 5.7 50 28 51.08 32.3 31 16.7 11 57.7 12
2001 138 618 4.5 32 23 52.17 24.6 16 11.6 3 50.0 5
Receiving
YearRecYdsAvgTDCom%1DCDTCD%BP%
1999 10 55 5.5 0
2000 21 193 9.2 0
2001 27 218 8.1 2 73.0 13 11 45.5 22.2
Tot 58 466 8.0 2 156.8 13 11 45.5 10.3
Receiving by QB
YearQBRec Throws Com% Yds 1D TD Success Rate
1999
Phil Petty 3 5 60.0 4 0 0 0.00
Mikal Goodman 3 3 100.0 36 1 0 66.67
Kyle Crabb 2 2 100.0 3 0 0 0.00
Josh Rogers 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0.00
Kevin Sides 1 1 100.0 7 0 0 100.00
2000
Phil Petty 18 24 75.0 134 9 0 50.00
Erik Kimrey 3 3 100.0 59 3 0 100.00
2001
Phil Petty 27 37 73.0 218 11 0 43.24
Success Rate from Official Play-By-Play Stats
YearPass PlaysPass SRPass SPPRush PlaysRush SRRush SPPRecv PlaysRecv SRRecv SPPRecv FC%Tot SPPSPP/Play
1999 1 0.00 -1 92 43.50 34.69 12 25 -1.17 67 32.52 0.31
2000 1 0.00 -1 187 48.70 265.33 27 55.6 30.73 29 295.06 1.37
2001 138 47.80 145.82 37 43.2 25.17 41 170.99 0.98
Defense
YearSoloAstTklTFLSacksIntPBUQBHFRFFBKIPCDSRZSIPPYPT
2001 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
Tot 1 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0

IP - Impact Plays; CDS - Conversion Down Stops (3rd & 4th Down); RZS - Red Zone Stops; IPP - Impact Play Points; YPT - Yards Per Tackle
Kickoff Returns
YearRetYdsAvgTD
1999 4 75 18.8 0
2000 25 537 21.5 0
2001 13 384 29.5 0
Tot 42 996 23.7 0
Punt Returns
YearRetYdsAvgTD
2000 3 38 12.7 1
Tot 3 38 12.7 1
Games Started
DateOpponentPosition
1999-09-18 East Carolina Tailback
1999-09-25 Mississippi State Tailback
1999-10-02 Mississippi Tailback
1999-10-09 Kentucky Tailback
1999-10-16 Arkansas Tailback
2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan Running Back
2000-09-23 Mississippi State Tailback
2000-09-30 Alabama Running Back
2000-10-07 Kentucky Tailback
2000-10-14 Arkansas Tailback
2000-10-21 Vanderbilt Tailback
2000-10-28 Tennessee Running Back
2000-11-11 Florida Running Back
2000-11-18 Clemson Tailback
2001-09-20 Mississippi State Tailback
2001-09-29 Alabama Tailback
2001-10-06 Kentucky Tailback
2001-10-13 Arkansas Tailback
2001-10-20 Vanderbilt Tailback
2001-10-27 Tennessee Tailback
2001-11-03 Wofford Tailback
2001-11-10 Florida Tailback
2001-11-17 Clemson Tailback
2002-01-01 Ohio State Tailback
Single Game Rushing Stats
SeasonGame DateOpponentAttYdsTD
1999 1999-09-04 N.C. State 15 118 0
1999-09-11 Georgia 10 29 0
1999-09-18 East Carolina 17 69 0
1999-09-25 Mississippi State 23 70 0
1999-10-02 Mississippi 11 12 0
1999-10-09 Kentucky 8 30 0
1999-10-16 Arkansas 3 13 0
1999-10-23 Vanderbilt 7 16 0
1999-10-30 Tennessee 11 23 0
1999-11-20 Clemson 6 14 0
2000 2000-09-02 New Mexico State 14 114 1
2000-09-09 Georgia 20 93 3
2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan 20 215 3
2000-09-23 Mississippi State 14 -1 0
2000-09-30 Alabama 12 42 0
2000-10-07 Kentucky 23 149 1
2000-10-14 Arkansas 17 136 1
2000-10-21 Vanderbilt 19 128 1
2000-10-28 Tennessee 11 5 0
2000-11-11 Florida 12 35 0
2000-11-18 Clemson 25 150 1
2001 2001-09-01 Boise State 13 71 1
2001-09-08 Georgia 8 13 0
2001-09-20 Mississippi State 11 32 0
2001-09-29 Alabama 9 24 1
2001-10-06 Kentucky 16 135 0
2001-10-13 Arkansas 9 31 0
2001-10-20 Vanderbilt 15 105 1
2001-10-27 Tennessee 17 75 0
2001-11-03 Wofford 6 25 0
2001-11-10 Florida 6 26 1
2001-11-17 Clemson 18 54 1
2002-01-01 Ohio State 11 27 0
Single Game Passing Stats
SeasonGame DateOpponentAttComYdsTDInt
2000 2000-09-30 Alabama 1 0 0 0 0
Single Game Receiving Stats
SeasonGame DateOpponentRecYdsTD
1999 1999-09-04 N.C. State 2 9 0
1999-09-18 East Carolina 1 1 0
1999-09-25 Mississippi State 1 5 0
1999-10-02 Mississippi 1 16 0
1999-10-09 Kentucky 1 11 0
1999-10-16 Arkansas 1 7 0
1999-10-23 Vanderbilt 2 3 0
1999-11-20 Clemson 1 3 0
2000 2000-09-02 New Mexico State 2 30 0
2000-09-09 Georgia 4 20 0
2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan 2 7 0
2000-09-23 Mississippi State 2 16 0
2000-09-30 Alabama 4 67 0
2000-10-07 Kentucky 1 12 0
2000-10-21 Vanderbilt 1 6 0
2000-10-28 Tennessee 1 5 0
2000-11-11 Florida 3 14 0
2000-11-18 Clemson 1 16 0
2001 2001-09-01 Boise State 4 40 1
2001-09-08 Georgia 3 -5 0
2001-09-20 Mississippi State 1 10 0
2001-09-29 Alabama 3 50 0
2001-10-06 Kentucky 3 25 0
2001-10-13 Arkansas 2 19 0
2001-10-20 Vanderbilt 1 7 0
2001-10-27 Tennessee 5 36 1
2001-11-17 Clemson 1 -1 0
2002-01-01 Ohio State 4 37 0
Scoring Plays
DateOpponentQtrTimeUSCOppPlay
2000-09-02 New Mexico State 2 10:06 15 0 Derek Watson, 1-yd run (Jermale Kelly reception for 2)
2000-09-09 Georgia 1 06:32 7 7 Derek Watson, 5-yd run (Reid Bethea kick)
2000-09-09 Georgia 1 03:15 14 7 Derek Watson, 2-yd run (Reid Bethea kick)
2000-09-09 Georgia 4 04:10 21 10 Derek Watson, 21-yd run (Reid Bethea kick)
2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan 2 10:04 14 3 Derek Watson, 16-yd run (Reid Bethea kick)
2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan 2 03:33 21 3 Derek Watson, 7-yd run (Reid Bethea kick)
2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan 3 07:53 31 3 Derek Watson, 65-yd run (Reid Bethea kick)
2000-10-07 Kentucky 3 01:37 20 17 Derek Watson, 58-yd run (Reid Bethea kick)
2000-10-14 Arkansas 3 03:33 27 0 Derek Watson, 68-yd run (Daniel Weaver kick)
2000-10-21 Vanderbilt 3 11:02 24 7 Derek Watson, 34-yd run (Daniel Weaver kick)
2000-11-11 Florida 1 00:06 21 3 Derek Watson 2-yd blocked punt return (Jason Corse kick)
2000-11-18 Clemson 1 01:59 7 7 Derek Watson, 61-yd run (Jason Corse kick)
2001-09-01 Boise State 1 09:58 7 0 Derek Watson, 16-yd pass from Phil Petty (Daniel Weaver kick)
2001-09-01 Boise State 3 08:08 26 7 Derek Watson, 6-yd run (Daniel Weaver kick)
2001-09-29 Alabama 4 06:28 30 36 Derek Watson, 2-yd run (Daniel Weaver kick failed)
2001-10-20 Vanderbilt 1 02:12 14 0 Derek Watson, 7-yd run (Daniel Weaver kick)
2001-10-27 Tennessee 2 00:26 7 7 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Phil Petty (Daniel Weaver kick)
2001-11-10 Florida 1 12:11 7 0 Derek Watson, 7-yd run (Daniel Weaver kick)
2001-11-17 Clemson 2 02:26 10 9 Derek Watson, 6-yd run (Daniel Weaver kick)
2002-01-01 Ohio State 3 05:38 28 0 Andrew Pinnock, 10-yd run (Derek Watson from Phil Petty 2 pt)
Receptions
YearDateOpponentDownTo GoSideYdlinePlay
1999 1999-09-04 N.C. State 3 17 NCS 18 Derek Watson, no gain on pass from Phil Petty, fumble, forced by (B.Jamison) recovered by (B.Williams) at NCS 18
1999 1999-09-04 N.C. State 2 9 USC 49 Derek Watson, 9-yd pass from Mikal Goodman (D.Burnette) - SC clipping
1999 1999-09-18 East Carolina 1 10 USC 6 Derek Watson, 1-yd pass from Phil Petty (J.Kerr)
1999 1999-10-02 Mississippi 1 15 USC 24 Derek Watson, 16-yd pass from Mikal Goodman (S.Taylor)
1999 1999-10-09 Kentucky 3 21 UKY 49 Derek Watson, 11-yd pass from Mikal Goodman (Marlon McCree)
1999 1999-10-16 Arkansas 1 10 USC 24 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Kevin Sides (Quenton Caver, Kenoy Kennedy)
1999 1999-10-23 Vanderbilt 3 16 USC 24 Derek Watson loss of 3 on pass from Kyle Crabb (Jamie Winborn)
1999 1999-10-23 Vanderbilt 1 25 USC 43 Derek Watson, 6-yd pass from Kyle Crabb (Jimmy Williams)
1999 1999-11-20 Clemson 2 9 USC 43 Derek Watson, 3-yd pass from Phil Petty (Alex Ardley)
2000 2000-09-02 New Mexico State 1 10 NMS 22 Derek Watson, loss of 6 on pass from Phil Petty (Jamar Cain)
2000 2000-09-02 New Mexico State 2 7 USC 8 Derek Watson, 36-yd pass from Erik Kimrey (Jamar Lawrence)
2000 2000-09-09 Georgia 3 5 UGA 27 Derek Watson loss of 3 on pass from Phil Petty, fumble, forced by (Jamie Henderson) recovered by Derek Watson
2000 2000-09-09 Georgia 2 12 USC 34 Derek Watson, 4-yd pass from Phil Petty (Charles Grant)
2000 2000-09-09 Georgia 3 4 USC 36 Derek Watson, 6-yd pass from Phil Petty (Kendrell Bell, Will Witherspoon)
2000 2000-09-09 Georgia 2 15 UGA 48 Derek Watson, 13-yd pass from Phil Petty (Will Witherspoon)
2000 2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan 2 10 EMI 49 Derek Watson loss of 8 on pass from Phil Petty (Nik Buckheimer)
2000 2000-09-16 Eastern Michigan 3 5 USC 39 Derek Watson, 15-yd pass from Phil Petty (Terrance Dills)
2000 2000-09-23 Mississippi State 1 10 USC 11 Derek Watson, 11-yd pass from Phil Petty (Josh Morgan)
2000 2000-09-23 Mississippi State 2 7 USC 21 Derek Watson, 5-yd pass from Phil Petty (Ellis Wyms, Conner Stephens)
2000 2000-09-30 Alabama 2 8 USC 30 Derek Watson, 10-yd pass from Erik Kimrey (Kenny King, Saleem Rasheed)
2000 2000-09-30 Alabama 3 8 ALA 41 Derek Watson, 13-yd pass from Erik Kimrey (Adam Cox, Gerald Dixon)
2000 2000-09-30 Alabama 1 15 USC 46 Derek Watson, 30-yd pass from Phil Petty (Victor Ellis)
2000 2000-09-30 Alabama 1 10 USC 35 Derek Watson, 14-yd pass from Phil Petty (Victor Ellis, Tony Dixon)
2000 2000-10-07 Kentucky 2 7 USC 44 Derek Watson, 12-yd pass from Phil Petty (Gary)
2000 2000-10-21 Vanderbilt 2 6 VAN 18 Derek Watson, 6-yd pass from Phil Petty (Jamie Winborn)
2000 2000-10-28 Tennessee 3 2 USC 41 Derek Watson, 5-yd pass from Phil Petty (Eric Westmoreland)
2000 2000-11-11 Florida 3 6 FLA 42 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Phil Petty (Mike Nattiel)
2000 2000-11-11 Florida 1 10 USC 18 Derek Watson, 3-yd pass from Phil Petty (Alex Brown)
2000 2000-11-11 Florida 3 6 USC 24 Derek Watson, 4-yd pass from Phil Petty (Gerard Warren)
2000 2000-11-18 Clemson 3 3 USC 43 Derek Watson, 16-yd pass from Phil Petty (Bryant McNeal)
2001 2001-09-01 Boise State 1 16 BOI 16 Derek Watson, 16-yd pass from Phil Petty , touchdown
2001 2001-09-01 Boise State 3 6 USC 45 Derek Watson, 22-yd pass from Phil Petty (Wes Nurse)
2001 2001-09-01 Boise State 1 10 50 Derek Watson, loss of 3 on pass from Phil Petty (Julius Brown)
2001 2001-09-01 Boise State 3 3 USC 37 Derek Watson, 5-yd pass from Phil Petty (Andy Avalos)
2001 2001-09-08 Georgia 1 10 USC 7 Derek Watson, 1-yd pass from Phil Petty (Bruce Thornton, Boss Bailey)
2001 2001-09-08 Georgia 2 10 USC 16 Derek Watson loss of 4 on pass from Phil Petty (Tim Wansley)
2001 2001-09-08 Georgia 2 13 USC 42 Derek Watson, loss of 2 on pass from Phil Petty, fumble, forced by (Tony Gilbert) recovered by (Bruce Thornton), returned to SC 11
2001 2001-09-20 Mississippi State 2 12 MST 45 Derek Watson, 10-yd pass from Phil Petty (Demetric Wright, Pig Prather)
2001 2001-09-29 Alabama 1 15 ALA 23 Derek Watson, loss of 4 on pass from Phil Petty (Herschel Bolden)
2001 2001-09-29 Alabama 1 10 USC 27 Derek Watson, 27-yd pass from Phil Petty (Waine Bacon)
2001 2001-09-29 Alabama 2 5 ALA 29 Derek Watson, 27-yd pass from Phil Petty (Charles Jones)
2001 2001-10-06 Kentucky 2 18 USC 47 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Phil Petty (Jamal White)
2001 2001-10-06 Kentucky 3 14 USC 39 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Phil Petty (Chris Gayton)
2001 2001-10-06 Kentucky 3 8 UKY 20 Derek Watson, 11-yd pass from Phil Petty (Quentus Cumby)
2001 2001-10-13 Arkansas 3 10 ARK 31 Derek Watson loss of 2 on pass for Phil Petty (Jermaine Petty)
2001 2001-10-13 Arkansas 2 10 USC 32 Derek Watson, 21-yd pass from Phil Petty (Tony Bua)
2001 2001-10-20 Vanderbilt 1 10 USC 22 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Phil Petty (Aaron McWhorter)
2001 2001-10-27 Tennessee 2 12 UTN 38 Derek Watson loss of 7 on pass from Phil Petty (Eddie Moore)
2001 2001-10-27 Tennessee 3 7 USC 19 Derek Watson, 6-yd pass from Phil Petty (Rashad Baker)
2001 2001-10-27 Tennessee 3 11 USC 9 Derek Watson, 16-yd pass from Phil Petty (Rashad Baker)
2001 2001-10-27 Tennessee 1 7 UTN 7 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Phil Petty, touchdown
2001 2001-10-27 Tennessee 2 10 USC 5 Derek Watson, 14-yd pass from Phil Petty (Rashad Baker)
2001 2001-11-17 Clemson 1 22 USC 48 Derek Watson loss of 1 on pass from Phil Petty (Kevin Johnson)
2001 2002-01-01 Ohio State 2 7 OHS 33 Derek Watson, 8-yd pass from Phil Petty (Richard McNutt)
2001 2002-01-01 Ohio State 2 10 USC 7 Derek Watson, 8-yd pass from Phil Petty (Joe Cooper)
2001 2002-01-01 Ohio State 3 2 USC 15 Derek Watson, 7-yd pass from Phil Petty (Joe Cooper)
2001 2002-01-01 Ohio State 2 8 USC 10 Derek Watson, 14-yd pass from Phil Petty (Cie Grant, Kenny Peterson)
Defensive Plays
YearDateOpponentDownTo GoSideYdlinePlay
2000 2000-11-11 Florida 4 10 FLA 35 Alan Rhine punt blocked by (Derek Watson) recovered by (Derek Watson), returned 2 yards, touchdown