2024: Played in five games making two starts ... completed 12 of 25 passes for 146 yards vs. Duke (Nov. 23) ... rushed for a two-point conversion against the Blue Devils ... made his first career start vs. Virginia (Nov. 30) completing 14 of 21 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown in a 37-17 win ... also rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown against the Cavaliers ... was named the ACC Rookie of the Week for his efforts ... completed 34 of 59 passes for 481 yards on the season ... started at quarterback in the Duke's Mayo Bowl vs. Minnesota (Jan. 3).

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.

William Watson III