Kansas State Signature Spotlight: Wesley Watson

NAME: Wesley Watson
RANKING: ***
CLASS: 2023
POSITION: Wide receiver
HOMETOWN: College Station, Texas
HIGH SCHOOL: Texas A&M Consolidated
POWER FIVE OFFERS: Kansas State, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Utah

RECRUITING SUMMARY

It came together quickly between receiver commit Wesley Watson and Kansas State. Remember, he was once committed to both SMU and Colorado. So, like Dylan Edwards, he actually gave a verbal pledge to three different schools throughout his recruiting process.

He was offered by K-State on October 12 while still committed to the Buffaloes.

Kansas State assistant Thad Ward and the Texas native instantly clicked and he took his official visit to Manhattan for the Oklahoma State. The wide receiver de-committed from Colorado not long afterwards and announced his commitment to K-State November 1.

The reason he began to peek around at other schools was because he committed to Karl Dorrell, then the head coach of the Buffaloes. However, he was fired by Colorado and eventually replaced by Deion Sanders.

While he was a flip from Colorado, it was more of a head-to-head win for Kansas State over Oklahoma State. The Cowboys wanted Watson to visit Stillwater after visiting Manhattan, but the Texan shut his recruitment down after his visit to K-State.

Watson will be an early enrollee.

5 more days… #EMAW 💜 pic.twitter.com/bE89gXVXSc

— Wesley Watson (@Wesleyy_8) December 16, 2022

EVALUATION

My first thought when watching Kansas State receiver commit Jayce Brown was that he reminded me a lot of RJ Garcia. Who I thought of after seeing Watson on tape the first time may surprise everyone. The length isn’t the same and Watson may be a tick faster, but Malik Knowles was the first thing that came to mind.

Watson has a similar stride, presents the same danger after the catch and wins the same way. The balls he caught at the line of scrimmage and then turned his hips and took off towards the perimeter and beat the defenders to the edge was exactly what we have seen out of Knowles time and time again at K-State.

Because of that, I don’t see a slot receiver like everyone else does when it comes to Watson. There was probably a misconception being made in that regard due to a stereotype, to be honest. I think he is made to play on the perimeter through and through.

I’ll be curious as to what kind of ball skills he has because that will be a factor on the outside. That wasn’t really shown in the film because he wasn’t tested in that particular area. He would just win with speed and have enough separation and space in high school games that it wouldn’t matter.

As a KSO subscriber, Kansas State fans can find out more about the rest of the recruiting targets still being chased, which underclassmen players could return for the Wildcats and how many of the seniors will be back on the roster for an extra season in Manhattan.

Remember, we also have plenty of bowl coverage on the way for Big 12 Champion K-State as well in the lead-up to the Sugar Bowl matchup with Alabama, plus Jerome Tang and company are cooking and have shot out to an 10-1 record.

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