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Wisconsin Football: RB Nakia Watson Enters Transfer Portal

By Paul Bretl

Dec 12, 2020; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Nakia Watson (14) runs the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Nakia Watson (14) runs the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Friday, we learned that Wisconsin Football RB Nakia Watson had reportedly entered the NCAA’s transfer portal.

A few weeks ago, we learned that quarterback Jack Coan would be entering the NCAA’s transfer portal, and on Friday, it was reported by Josh Schafer of Badger247 that running back Nakia Watson would be doing the same, leaving the Wisconsin Football program.

With Jonathan Taylor now in the NFL, red-shirt sophomore Nakia Watson was figured by many to be the team’s top back in 2020. He was coming off a 2019 season as Taylor’s backup, where he totaled 331 rushing yards at 4.5 yards per carry. And that’s how things played out during Wisconsin’s opening game against Illinois.

Watson led all Wisconsin running backs in both snaps and attempts against the Illini, logging 19 rushes for 62 yards, but averaged only 3.3 yards per carry. The following week against Michigan, Watson had fewer opportunities with the emergence of true freshman Jalen Berger, although he did score two touchdowns, and against Northwestern and Indiana, he was on the field for only 11 offensive snaps with nine carries for 35 yards.

With Berger out against Iowa, Watson once again led the Badgers in carries with 12 but averaged a measly 2.6 yards per rush against a stout Hawkeye defensive front. However, after that game, Watson didn’t see the field on offense for the remainder of the season against Minnesota or Wake Forest.

When it was all said and done, Watson found the endzone three times but finished the season with 193 rushing yards on 52 attempts, with only three of his carries going for more than 10 yards, and he averaged just 3.7 yards per rush.

With or without Watson, heading into the 2021 season, Berger is set to be RB1 on this Wisconsin team, and we could also see the return of Garrett Groshek with an extra year of eligibility. Like Berger, Groshek also saw more playing time than Watson and was the featured back against the Gophers, with Berger still sidelined.

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In addition to those two, Isaac Guerendo could see some playing time next season in a rotational role, and a loaded Wisconsin 2021 recruiting class is bringing in Loyal Crawford, Antwan Roberts, and Jackson Acker at the running back position as well.

With Watson in the transfer portal, other schools can now contact him without any restrictions.

Stats via Pro Football Focus ($)

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