William "Pop" Watson III Season 2023

2023: Played in two games at quarterback ... rushed five times for 40 yards.

High School:  Four-year letterman for head coach William Watson at Springfield Central High School in Massachusetts … Named the Gatorade Massachusetts Player of the Year in 2022 … Three-year captain for the Eagles … Represented Springfield Central in the 2022 U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Helped lead the Eagles to a 33-6 record and two Massachusetts Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Division I state championships during his career (2019, 2021) and three finals appearances … Graduated as Springfield Central’s all-time passing leader, having completed 459-of-691 career passes for 7,847 career passing yards (66.4 percent) and 81 career touchdowns … Attempted 190 career carries totaling 2,120 career rushing yards and 40 career rushing touchdowns … Four-year all-state, all-region (Western Massachusetts) and all-conference honoree … As a 2022 senior, he helped the Eagles average more than 50 points per game, throwing 17 touchdown passes while rushing for 21 scores … Led Springfield Central to a runner-up finish in the Massachusetts Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Division I state tournament … Named the MaxPreps Massachusetts High School Football Player of the Year as a junior, leading Springfield Central to a 10-2 record and the Division 1 state championship … The QB threw for 2,026 yards on 60 percent passing with 22 touchdowns in his junior season, rushing for 590 yards and seven scores … As a 2019 freshman, he set a career high with 32 touchdown passes and more than 2,500 passing yards … Three-time Most Valuable Player of the Springfield Central football team (2020-22) … Was also a three-year letterwinner in basketball, captaining the Eagles for one season … Reached the state semifinals in basketball during 2021 … Lettered twice in track in the 100 meter, 4x100m and long jump events, reaching the state finals in both distance events … Rated a 3-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals … Ranked as the No. 20 overall quarterback by ESPN, No. 30 by On3 and No. 42 by Rivals  … Ranked as the No. 6 Massachusetts prospect by On3, No. 8 by 247Sports and Rivals, and No. 10 by ESPN.
 
Personal:  Full name is William Waverly Watson III … Nickname is “Pop” … Son of William and Stacey Watson … Father, William, played football at American International College (AIC) from 1992 to 1996 … Has one brother, Justin, and two sisters, Shanice and Jada … Brother, Justin, played football at AIC from 2013 to 2015 … Cousin, Corey Lewis, played football at Illinois from 2008 to 2012 …  Interested in majoring in real estate at Virginia Tech … Aspires to become a real estate developer … Hobbies include playing sports or competing at anything … Born June 8, 2004, in Springfield, Massachusetts.