Kenny Watson
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Dwight Watson is an American football
running back
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Washington Redskins
as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football
at Penn State
.
Watson has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals
.
and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was a prep All-America
n and an Associated Press
all-state pick in 1995. In his senior season, he ran for 1,495 yards and 23 touchdown
s. A fter his senior football season, he participated in the 1996 Big 33 game
.
, playing tailback
, wide receiver
and kick returner
. He was part of the Penn State's infamous "running back by committee" during his senior season, sharing carries with future NFLers
Larry Johnson, Omar Easy
, and Eric McCoo
. He holds two Penn State records: career kickoff returns (67) and career kickoff yardage (1,506 yards). His record for single-season kickoff yardage (522 yards) was broken in 2007
by A. J. Wallace
with 581 yards.
in 2001 as rookie
free agent
. In 2002, he played in all 12 games for the Redskins
, mostly in relief of injured Stephen Davis
, finishing second on the team in rushing with 116 carries for 534 yards and a pair of touchdown
s. He spent the 2003 preseason with Washington
, but was released in final roster cuts on August 31.
as a free agent on September 30, 2004 and played in eight games, mostly on special teams that season.
By the 2004 season, Watson had found his niche as an effective 3rd-down threat. He led Bengals running backs in receiving with 24 catches for 162 yards. His lone touchdown
that season was quarterback
Carson Palmer's
first career touchdown
pass on September 12 versus the New York Jets
. Watson suffered a season-ending biceps
injury in the 2005 season opener and was placed on injured reserve
for the remainder of the season. He signed a one-year contract with the Bengals
during the 2006 offseason and extended his contract three more years in March 2007.
Watson saw significant playing time in 2007
due to injuries to starters Rudi Johnson
and Kenny Irons
. Watson led the NFL in rushing, week 7 versus the New York Jets
, with three touchdowns and 130 yards on 31 carries.
In 2008, Watson saw action in the Bengals' first three regular season games, rushing seven times for 32 yards and catching two passes for three yards. He was inactive during Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns
. The following week, the Bengals released Watson on October 4 to make room for wide receiver
Chris Henry, who was coming off suspension. He was re-signed on October 7.
Watson was released by the Bengals on August 10, 2009.
. He is active with charitable causes such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Toys for Tots
and the C.A.R.E.S. program for autism
. He earned a Bachelor of Arts
in Integrative Arts from Penn State in 2000.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
as an undrafted free agent in 2001. 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 Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Watson has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
.
Early years
Watson attended Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was a prep All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n and an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
all-state pick in 1995. In his senior season, he ran for 1,495 yards and 23 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. A fter his senior football season, he participated in the 1996 Big 33 game
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." The last 14 contests have pitted players from Pennsylvania against players...
.
College career
Watson was a multi-purpose player at Penn StatePennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, playing tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
, wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
. He was part of the Penn State's infamous "running back by committee" during his senior season, sharing carries with future NFLers
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...
Larry Johnson, Omar Easy
Omar Easy
Omar Xavier Easy is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played collegiately at Penn State before being drafted in the 4th round of 2002 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs....
, and Eric McCoo
Eric McCoo
Eric Franklin McCoo, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles...
. He holds two Penn State records: career kickoff returns (67) and career kickoff yardage (1,506 yards). His record for single-season kickoff yardage (522 yards) was broken in 2007
2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania....
by A. J. Wallace
A. J. Wallace (American football)
Anton Dominic "A. J." Wallace, Jr. is an American football cornerback and kick returner for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Penn State...
with 581 yards.
Washington Redskins
Watson signed with WashingtonWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in 2001 as rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. In 2002, he played in all 12 games for the Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, mostly in relief of injured Stephen Davis
Stephen Davis (American football)
Stephen Lamont Davis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. Davis will be the Carolina Panthers' minority coaching intern for the 2010-11 season.-College career:...
, finishing second on the team in rushing with 116 carries for 534 yards and a pair of touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He spent the 2003 preseason with Washington
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, but was released in final roster cuts on August 31.
Cincinnati Bengals
Watson then signed with the BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
as a free agent on September 30, 2004 and played in eight games, mostly on special teams that season.
By the 2004 season, Watson had found his niche as an effective 3rd-down threat. He led Bengals running backs in receiving with 24 catches for 162 yards. His lone touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
that season was quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Carson Palmer's
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer is an American professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 2002...
first career touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass on September 12 versus the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Watson suffered a season-ending biceps
Biceps
Biceps may refer to:*Biceps brachii muscle, a muscle located on the inside of the upper arm*Biceps femoris muscle, one of the hamstring muscles of the back of each thigh*Biceps , a point in a metrical pattern...
injury in the 2005 season opener and was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
for the remainder of the season. He signed a one-year contract with the Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
during the 2006 offseason and extended his contract three more years in March 2007.
Watson saw significant playing time in 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
due to injuries to starters Rudi Johnson
Rudi Johnson
Burudi Ali "Rudi" Johnson is a former American football running back who played professionally from 2001 - 2008. Rudi was born in Petersburg, Virginia approximately 30 miles south of Richmond. His first name "Burudi" is Swahili and means "cool'" and his middle name "Ali" represented his family's...
and Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. Watson led the NFL in rushing, week 7 versus the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, with three touchdowns and 130 yards on 31 carries.
In 2008, Watson saw action in the Bengals' first three regular season games, rushing seven times for 32 yards and catching two passes for three yards. He was inactive during Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The following week, the Bengals released Watson on October 4 to make room for wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Chris Henry, who was coming off suspension. He was re-signed on October 7.
Watson was released by the Bengals on August 10, 2009.
Personal
Watson lives in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. He is active with charitable causes such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
and the C.A.R.E.S. program for autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. He earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Integrative Arts from Penn State in 2000.