Bulldogs continue to pile on recruiting haul, landing 3-star tight end Tre Watson
Tre Watson did his research. He watched the film, not just Fresno State film, but UC Davis film, where Bulldogs tight ends coach Paul Creighton worked last season.
He talked to the coaches, a lot. Ultimately, he saw a perfect fit.
And, on Wednesday, the tight end from Cleveland High in Rio Rancho, N.M., finalized a commitment to Fresno State, where he is expected to be a key piece in a position group that has proven very productive in the Bulldogs’ offense the past two seasons.
“The way I would be used there, the relationships I built with the coaches, it was all up there,” said Watson, one of the top 2021 prospects in New Mexico. “I have a really good relationship with the tight ends coach, Coach Creighton. He really connected with me as more than just an athlete.”
Watson did not have to dig too deep into the Bulldogs’ archives to see how he could fit in the offense. At 6-foot-5 and about 222 pounds at the moment, he has size, length and athleticism similar to that of former Fresno State tight end Jared Rice, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rice needed some prodding way back when before he saw the potential playing as an inline tight end, but he left plenty on tape for Watson.
The past two seasons, Rice was one of the most productive tight ends in the Mountain West Conference. As a junior in 2018, he caught 55 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns. He followed that up with 32 receptions for 307 yards and four touchdowns last season, and ended his career as the Bulldogs’ all-time leader in receptions by a tight end with 113 and receiving yards by a tight end with 1,365.
High school football in New Mexico has been pushed back to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but by then Watson said he is hoping to be about 230 pounds and could play at that weight at Fresno State.
Rice as a sophomore in 2017 was about 228 pounds when coach Jeff Tedford and then offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer started to make the tight end position more of a focal point in the offense, turning it into an every-down threat that could stretch the football field.
“I’ve been told I could possibly play the outside spot in some cases, if there are mismatches,” Watson said.
“I feel like I’m a versatile player. If they need to play in line or as a hybrid tight end in the backfield I feel like I can get it done.”
Watson is the second player to make a commitment to Fresno State in the past week, joining San Joaquin Memorial High running back Jordan Hornbeak, who passed on a number of scholarship offers from Pac-12 programs to stay at home to play college football.
The Bulldogs’ 2021 recruiting class includes commitments from safety Julian Neal (6-4, 195) from San Francisco Mission High, defensive tackles Julius Lewis (6-6, 290) from Modesto Central Catholic and David Gusta (6-3, 250) from San Bernardino Cajon and running back Malik Brooks (6-1, 200) from Las Vegas Desert Pines.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 1:11 PM.