J. J. Watt
Encyclopedia
Justin James "J. J." Watt (born March 22, 1989) is an American football
defensive end
for the Houston Texans
of the National Football League
. He was drafted 11th overall by the Texans in the 2011 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Wisconsin
.
. He attended Pewaukee High School in Pewaukee, Wisconsin
. He played both defensive end and tight end
. Watt also lettered in baseball, basketball, and track during his high school career. As a senior, Watt was state champion in the shot put.
for one year, 2007, before transferring to Wisconsin. While there he played tight end and caught eight passes for 77 yards.
In the 2010 season, Watt finished the regular season with 59 tackles, seven sacks
, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. Watt was the 2010 recipient of the Ronnie Lott Award and was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award
along with Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, Adrian Clayborn
of Iowa, Ryan Kerrigan
of Purdue, Von Miller
of Texas A&M, and Jabaal Sheard
of Pittsburgh.
.
. On July 31, 2011, Watt was signed to a four-year contract with the Texans worth $11,237,000, which includes a signing bonus of $6,672,000.. In his first regular season game with the Texans, Watt recorded five tackles and recovered a fumble.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted 11th overall by the Texans in the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
.
Early years
Watt was born in Pewaukee, WisconsinPewaukee, Wisconsin
Pewaukee is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The population was 11,783 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated from what was formerly the Town of Pewaukee. The Village of Pewaukee, which was incorporated out of the town before it incorporated as a city, is surrounded by the city...
. He attended Pewaukee High School in Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Pewaukee is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The population was 11,783 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated from what was formerly the Town of Pewaukee. The Village of Pewaukee, which was incorporated out of the town before it incorporated as a city, is surrounded by the city...
. He played both defensive end and tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. Watt also lettered in baseball, basketball, and track during his high school career. As a senior, Watt was state champion in the shot put.
Central Michigan
Watt attended Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
for one year, 2007, before transferring to Wisconsin. While there he played tight end and caught eight passes for 77 yards.
Wisconsin
After being redshirted in 2008, Watt started all 13 games at defensive end in 2009. He finished the season with 44 tackles and four sacks.In the 2010 season, Watt finished the regular season with 59 tackles, seven sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. Watt was the 2010 recipient of the Ronnie Lott Award and was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award
Ted Hendricks Award
The Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to college football's top defensive end. The award is named after Ted Hendricks, who is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is presented by his own 501 foundation, called the Ted Hendricks...
along with Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, Adrian Clayborn
Adrian Clayborn
Adrian Clayborn , a native of St. Louis, Missouri, is an American football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.-Personal life:...
of Iowa, Ryan Kerrigan
Ryan Kerrigan
Patrick Ryan Kerrigan is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins with the 16th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.-Early years:Kerrigan attended Muncie Central High...
of Purdue, Von Miller
Von Miller
Von Miller is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted second overall by the Broncos in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M....
of Texas A&M, and Jabaal Sheard
Jabaal Sheard
Jabaal Sheard is an American football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns.-College career:He is described as someone who has not gotten enough credit on the Pittsburgh defensive line and noted for his "extraordinary game" against Notre Dame and the pressure he put on quarterback Jimmy Clausen...
of Pittsburgh.
College statistics
| Year | Team | Tackles | TFL–yards | Sacks–yards | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Wisconsin | 44 | 15.5–53 | 4.5–19 | 2 |
| 2010 | Wisconsin | 62 | 21.0–91 | 7.0–56 | 2 |
| College totals | 106 | 36.5–144 | 11.5–75 | 4 | |
Professional career
On January 6, 2011, Watt announced that he would forgo his senior year of college to enter the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
.
2011 NFL Draft
On April 28, 2011, Watt was drafted 11th overall to the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On July 31, 2011, Watt was signed to a four-year contract with the Texans worth $11,237,000, which includes a signing bonus of $6,672,000.. In his first regular season game with the Texans, Watt recorded five tackles and recovered a fumble.