Watson relishes first taste, hungry for more

[Mama_Bull]

#53 Elkino Watson savors his first game and victory for USF

Watson relishes first taste, hungry for more

Posted Sep 7, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Sep 7, 2011 at 08:10 PM

It was everything Elkino Watson envisioned for his first college game: staring at a packed house, in a hostile environment, everybody screaming and shouting.

When it came time for USF’s true freshman defensive tackle to take the field for the first time at Notre Dame Stadium, he wanted to make the most of his first snap.

“My heart was pounding, like, ‘I’ve gotta make a play, gotta make a play,’†Watson said.

And he did. Watson entered the game on the Bulls second defensive series and proceeded to wrap up Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood after a 4-yard gain on his first collegiate play. Afterwards, he was congratulated by several of the Bulls veteran defenders, a moment he won’t forget.

“It felt pretty awesome,†Watson said of what turned out to be his only tackle in USF’s 23-20 win.

After watching the film from his first game Watson knows there’s plenty of room for improvement, and he’s eager to get back onto the field. No. 22 USF (1-0) hosts Ball State (1-0) in its home opener Saturday.

“It makes me pretty hungry, makes me want to work more,†Watson said. “Like Keith McCaskill and Cory Grissom said, don’t never settle for less. Just keep going and keep working every day, you’ll get better. From there, no telling how far you’ll go.â€

Bulls defensive tackles coach Kevin Patrick said Watson certainly is heading in the right direction.

“You get to a point where you’d like to say you have four ones, and Elkino’s getting close,†Patrick said. “I thought Luke (Sager) and Elkino, for the limited amount of reps that they got – I mean, we had so many breaks in there, my first guys stayed fresh – but they played hard.

“I’m real excited about those two guys behind Pork Chop (Grissom) and Keith, and again I think we’re going to progress into a situation where they’re all ones. It’s just going to be a rolling situation where we’re going to put guys out on the field and they’re going to produce the same.â€

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/watson-relishes-first-taste-hungry-for-more/

[Matt]

in order to win the big east we NEED depth at the DT position.

[GaUSFBull]

That kid is a BEAST.  Stay hungry, Elkino. 

[Mama_Bull]

in order to win the big east we NEED depth at the DT position.

Yep.

I think we are still awaiting word on the final appeal of Chandler to see if he will be eligible.

In any event, I doubt we take the redshirt off White.

Elkino should be enough to take up the slack.

[Matt]

I will be very disappointed in Chandler if he cant get eligible.  He has been on campus for a full year.  He KNOWS what it takes to get on that field and he watched the team do it week in and week out last year.

Where is the mix up?  get the grades.  its not that hard.

[Reliable Source]

Elkino made the decision to come to USF based on his heart and what it had told him to do. He came in fit and ready to go to work. Nothing against anyone else but this guy will be a quiet Team Captain before he leaves USF. He is gonna be a big force on this team for 4 years. Way to go, kid.

[Mama_Bull]

I will be very disappointed in Chandler if he cant get eligible.  He has been on campus for a full year.  He KNOWS what it takes to get on that field and he watched the team do it week in and week out last year.

Where is the mix up?  get the grades.  its not that hard.

The thing I like about Elkino, is that he takes his academics seriously. He puts that first over everything else.

[DELdaBull]

He could be our next great D lineman

[tburns]

Watson is gonna be a force on the inside this year. I think he is a rare talent. I like the roatation of McCaskill, Grissom, Sager and Watson. Hopefully Thompson can work his way back in also.

Anyone know how McCaskills knee is doing? I remember he was slowed a bit the weak heading into the irish game.

[Mama_Bull]

Watson is gonna be a force on the inside this year. I think he is a rare talent. I like the roatation of McCaskill, Grissom, Sager and Watson. Hopefully Thompson can work his way back in also.

Anyone know how McCaskills knee is doing? I remember he was slowed a bit the weak heading into the irish game.

Other standout performers on Saturday, Holtz noted, were LB Dede Lattimore, who Holtz said had "outstanding" game, defensive tackles Cory Grissom and Keith McCaskill, linebacker Mike Lanaris, and defensive end Patrick Hampton

http://usf.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1261411