On Tuesday, Dec. 20, Villanova graduate quarterback Connor Watkins announced, via his Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) accounts, that he will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Watkins played his last game as a Wildcat on Saturday, Dec. 7 with a loss to Incarnate Word, 13-6, in the second round of the FCS playoffs. It marked the end of a six-year stint at Villanova.
“To Villanova University, the coaching staff, support staff and my teammates, thank you for believing in me and helping me grow both as a player and a person,” Watkins said in a statement on social media.
In his 50 games played, Watkins started under center for 38 of them, throwing for 7,309 yards and 50 touchdowns on 471 completions. The six-foot-three quarterback was a monster on the ground, rushing for 1,256 yards and 27 touchdowns.
In 2021, Watkins was Villanova’s emergency punter against Penn State.
As a starter, Watkins had a record of 26-12. Notably, Watkins never lost the “Battle of the Blue” against Delaware as starting quarterback.
The Loyalsock Township graduate will now set his sights on professional football, captioning his social media post, “Time to make dreams come true.”
With Watkins out of eligibility, his time at Villanova is over. He is one of possibly multiple Wildcats who will enter their names in the NFL Draft.
“Thank you, Nova Nation, for your endless support,” Watkins said. “Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”
