Mississippi State LB Nathaniel Watson arrested, Zach Arnett releases statement

Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson was arrested on suspicion of DUI, according to the Clarion Ledger.

Watson was arrested by campus police last week according to the report. He was set to enter his sixth year with the Bulldogs, using his extra year from the COVID-19 waiver. 

Head coach Zach Arnett released a statement on the incident.

“We are aware of the matter and are continuing to gather information,” Arnett said. “We do not have further comment at this time.”

Over the course of his career, Watson steadily improved on the field. Las year, he had 114 total tackles, 51 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, one pass deflection and one forced fumble.

He has 240 total tackles in his career to go along with 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

As a member of the Class of 2018, Watson was a three-star recruit out of Maplesville (Ala.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 26 overall prospect in the state, the No. 52 EDGE in the class and the No. 703 overall prospect in the class.

Zach Arnett details approach to first full year with Mississippi State

Things might look a little different, but Arnett couldn’t thank the late Mike Leach enough for the impact on his life and coaching career.

“Well, I feel like I got to do what I believe,” Arnett said on Sirius XM’s SEC Radio. “If you try to be someone else it’s obviously gonna come through inauthentic and the players gonna read through that right away. But, I mean, I got a chance to spend three years under what in my opinion is a first ballot Hall of Fame coach. Guy’s won everywhere he’s been. His ability to simplify complex. philosophical thoughts and boil them down to their simplest and communicate. His ability to communicate with everyone in the organization was second to none.

“And so again a lot of a lot of wisdom from listening to coach Leach over the last three years and there’s lessons I learned that’ll stick with me for the rest of my life. And so I’m forever indebted to him for that. But we’re certainly going to do some things maybe a little differently because I believe in them and I’m a different person. But I cherished my time under him and again, a lot of a lot of things he explained to us and his philosophies that have certainly influenced me and will continue to for the rest of my coaching career.”

Leach went 19-17 in three seasons at head coach, leading Mississippi State to bowl games in all three seasons. He passed before the Bulldogs played in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Arnett might be the right man for the job, due to the continuity.