Florida DL Desmond Watson records 36 reps on bench press, impressive vertical at Pro Day

The NFL Combine has come and gone but that doesn’t mean the chance to impress scouts is over. Team Pro Days are here, and Florida hosted its version on Thursday inside the team’s indoor practice facility, where defensive tackle Desmond Watson immediately turned heads.

Weighing in at a whopping 464 pounds, Watson displayed some rare athleticism. He did it in multiple events, too. Perhaps the most impressive was his bench press. Watson slugged out 36 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, an eye-popping figure.

Just how lofty a total was that? Well, it would have topped every competitor at this year’s NFL Combine by at least three reps. Cincinnati guard Luke Kandra posted the top mark in Indianapolis by benching 225 pounds 33 times.

You can view Desmond Watson’s impressive work on the bench below. It’s something else.

36 reps for Desmond Watson pic.twitter.com/k2cKNsOrkt

— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) March 27, 2025

But Watson wasn’t done there at the team’s annual Pro Day. He also turned in a 25-inch vertical jump. That would have ranked near the bottom of the NFL Combine performers — Florida’s own Cam Jackson turned in a 24.5-inch jump — but then again, most of those competitors weren’t tipping the scales at 464 pounds.

Bottom line: Desmond Watson has likely made himself some money. Or at the very least given himself a chance to earn some major money at the NFL level. There will remain concerns about his overall fitness level and how many snaps he can play at his elevated weight. But Watson carries the weight well and can clearly move around with it.

In four years at Florida, Desmond Watson recorded 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defended. He also recorded one carry for a yard — and a first down — while working out of the backfield during the team’s bowl game in 2024.