Baylor lures Rams' Watson

SPRINGFIELD — When the dust settled on Sean Watson’s recruitment Wednesday morning, Baylor was the one school left standing.

The Bears came on strong in the last week-and-a-half, Rutherford coach Greg Rivers said, promising Watson playing time as a freshman, and keeping him at his natural and favorite position, defensive tackle.

On Wednesday, Watson (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) signed a scholarship tender from Baylor during a ceremony in the new Rutherford Gym alongside family, coaches and teammates.

“I feel like I can do big things at Baylor and in the Big 12,” Watson said. “They want me to come in this summer and do my summer sessions and come in and be a part of the team. They don’t want me to redshirt. They want me to play right away.”

His signature ended months of speculation on where he would play college football. Watson had his eyes set on Arkansas, hoping to join his cousin, Port St. Joe’s Darrell Smith who signed with the Razorbacks Wednesday morning. Arkansas reportedly told Watson it would sign him if another defensive tackle commitment fell through.

When that didn’t happen, Watson was left with FAU, FIU and Baylor. Watson verbally committed to FAU two weeks ago as a safety net, he said, but wanted to keep his options open. As for FIU, he felt the two South Florida schools were too similar to choose from.

“I didn’t want to make that choice at that moment, but I didn’t want to lose any more scholarships so I verballed,” Watson said.

Watson is the only defensive tackle the Bears signed on Wednesday and is part of a plan by Baylor coach Art Briles to rebuild a sluggish defense. Fourteen of Baylor’s 22 signees were on defense.

The Bears were ranked No. 94 in overall defense, allowing 405.58 yards per game; 75th in pass defense, allowing 226.83 yards and 98th in rush defense, allowing 178.75.

Watson was the only Florida recruit Baylor signed Wednesday and was just one of five who weren’t from Texas. He was ranked as the 38th-best defensive lineman by Rivals.com and 105th by Scout.com, and was the 82nd-ranked player in the state of Florida.

Last season, Watson had 65 tackles and was second in the area with eight sacks.

“I think the coach will love him,” Rivers said. “I think he’s going to make it well if he prepares himself.”