Eric Watts Bio
Eric Watts (born October 1, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and listed at 277 pounds, Watts plays as an edge rusher on the defensive line. After playing his college football for the UConn Huskies, he joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and continues to compete for a roster spot at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Eric Watts was born on October 1, 2000, in Sumter, South Carolina, in the United States. He grew up in Sumter, a mid-sized city in the state’s heartland, where he developed an early love for competitive team sports. The community setting in Sumter provided a strong foundation for his athletic interests and shaped his approach to the game.
Watts attended Sumter High School, where he excelled in both football and basketball. On the gridiron, he earned significant recognition for his play as a defensive lineman, including selection to the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl. He helped the Sumter High School football team capture county and region championships during his time on the roster, establishing himself as one of the area’s top high school defensive prospects.
As a senior at Sumter, Watts recorded 8.5 sacks while leading the team on a run of ten consecutive victories. His combination of size, length, and quickness drew the attention of college recruiters. Following his senior season, he committed to play college football for the UConn Huskies, choosing a program where he could continue to grow as a defensive end.
Path to American Football
Watts’s path to professional football began with a notable high school resume at Sumter, where his sack production and championship experience positioned him as a coveted recruit. His selection to the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl provided him with exposure to a national audience and a chance to compete against some of the top high school talent in the country.
His commitment to UConn gave him the opportunity to develop his game against the kind of larger, more physical competition found in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision. By the end of his high school career, Watts had the statistical production, the physical tools, and the championship pedigree to make the leap to the next level.
Eric Watts Career
Early Career (2019-2023)
Watts enrolled at the University of Connecticut and began seeing extended action as a true freshman during the 2019 season. He appeared in all 12 games that year and recorded 30 tackles, an impressive workload for a first-year player. The 2020 season, however, was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his developmental reps.
He returned in 2021 and played 10 games, finishing with 39 tackles. The 2022 season represented a major step forward, as he appeared in 13 games and posted 49 tackles while leading the team in both tackles-for-loss, with 10, and sacks, with 7.0. He also blocked two kicks and added two forced fumbles. As a senior in 2023, he recorded 34 tackles and two sacks, then earned invitations to the 2024 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, where he showcased his size and athleticism to professional scouts.
New York Jets Era (2024-Present)
Watts signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024. He was also selected by the Memphis Showboats in the fifth round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17. Despite going undrafted, Watts made the Jets’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp, an uncommon achievement for a first-year UDFA. Through his first NFL seasons he has recorded 23 total tackles, according to career statistics.
On August 26, 2025, Watts was waived by the Jets as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He returned to the active roster on December 10, giving him another opportunity to contribute on defense. His movement between the practice squad and the active roster reflects the typical early career path of a young defensive end still establishing himself in the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Watts’s career milestones, his selection to the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in high school and his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl stand out as signature events. Making the Jets’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie remains a defining early-career accomplishment. His re-signing to the practice squad in 2025 and subsequent promotion to the active roster mark additional turning points in his young professional journey.
Eric Watts Career Wins
Eric Watts’s career is still in its early stages, and the verified record focuses on individual statistical production rather than team championships. His résumé features standout tackle, sack, and tackle-for-loss totals at the college level, along with a steady accumulation of tackles since joining the NFL.
College and Professional Highlights
At Sumter High School, Watts helped the football team win county and region championships and contributed to a streak of ten straight victories during his senior season. At UConn, his most decorated season came in 2022, when he led the Huskies with 10 tackles-for-loss and 7.0 sacks, added 49 tackles, and contributed two blocked kicks and two forced fumbles. In the NFL, he has recorded 23 total tackles across his time with the New York Jets, a solid foundation for a young pass rusher still developing his role at the professional level.
Other Performances
Watts also played basketball at Sumter High School, demonstrating the kind of multi-sport athletic background common among top defensive linemen. His selection to the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl highlighted his standing among the country’s premier high school defensive players. Participation in the NFL Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl further validated his transition from prospect to professional football player.
Eric Watts Family
Personal Life
Eric Watts was raised in Sumter, South Carolina, the community that shaped his early athletic development. Information about his parents, spouse, and children is not publicly documented in the verified sources available. He continues to focus on his professional football career with the New York Jets.
2025 Season Performance
Watts’s 2025 NFL season began with a roster challenge, as he was waived by the New York Jets on August 26 as part of final cuts. The Jets quickly re-signed him to the practice squad the following day, keeping him within the organization as he worked to prove his value. He remained a familiar face on the practice squad before earning another opportunity later in the year.
On December 10, 2025, Watts was signed back to the Jets’ active roster, adding depth to the defensive line down the stretch of the season. His return to the active roster gave him a fresh chance to contribute on defense and continue building on the 23 total tackles he had accumulated through his NFL career. The combination of practice-squad experience and late-season promotion reflects the patience and perseverance required of a young, undrafted defensive end.
Looking ahead, Watts’s outlook rests on his ability to translate the physical tools he displayed at UConn into consistent NFL production. Continued development in his pass-rush technique, strength at the point of attack, and special-teams contributions will be key factors in his long-term roster security. His journey from Sumter High School to the NFL illustrates the steady, step-by-step progress that defines many late-blooming professional careers.