Florida Gators defensive lineman Desmond Watson is a modern marvel at 6-foor-6 and 464 pounds.
At the Gators’ recent pro day, he dazzled with 36 bench press reps at 225 pounds, making it the highest recorded count of any athlete absent from the NFL Combine.
He also posted an unofficial 40-yard dash time of 5.93 seconds. Trust me when I say, that’s faster than most people you know. It calculates to 13.8 mph.
Watson played in 51 games as a member of the Gators.
If Watson is drafted, he’s expected to go in a late round, or potentially be signed as an undrafted free agent.
If you’re wondering just how big 464 pounds is, here are some comparisons of animals, other NFL players and some other fun and random items.
Comparing Desmond Watson to wild animals
Zebra. A zebra, on average, is about 5 feet tall and can weigh between 440 and 1,000 pounds. They can reach max speeds of 40 mph.
Tiger. Tigers range between 6-and-a-half to 13 feet long and with weight as high as 450 pounds. They can reach max speeds of 40 mph.
Grizzley bear. Males go between 400-700 pounds and can reach max speeds of 35 mph.
Comparing Desmond Watson to past, present stars
Current heavyweight. The heaviest player in the NFL in 2024 was Ravens guard Daniel Faalele at 379 pounds. Watsons is more than 18 percent heavier than Faalele.
A league of his own? Faalele is also tied for the heaviest player to ever compete in the NFL. Watson would set an amazing new standard by 85 pounds.
The Fridge. The standard kitchen refrigerator weighs between 180-360 pounds, much smaller than Desmond Watson. William “Refrigerator” Perry weighed 382 at his apex of weight. He generally played around 335 pounds.
Seeing double? DK Metcalf is one of the biggest wide receivers in the NFL at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. Lavonte David of the Buccaneers is one of the most feared linebackers of the past decade, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 233 pounds. Together, they equal one Desmond Watson.
Tidbits from weightofstuff.com
Barkeep, another round. A full beer keg weighs 150 pounds. Therefore, stacking three beer kegs together amounts to a total weight of 450 pounds.
DK Metcalf and Lavonte David’s tandem bicycle. You know, those old-timey bikes with big handles bars and two seats? You’d need 7 of them to weigh the same as Desmond Watson.
Trouble on wheels. A classic motorcycle called the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 weighs just over 450 pounds. Desmond Watson might be similar in weight, but this is one vehicle that Watson wouldn’t be able to outrun.
Other fun Desmond Watson comparisons
The Gators’ other giant. Florida’s Olivier Rioux is the tallest player in college basketball at 7-foot-9. He weighs 305 pounds. Watson is 1 foot, 3 inches shorter, but weighs 150 pounds more.
Who was bigger? Andre the Giant was listed at over 7 feet tall and 520 pounds at his peak. Possibly the closest comparison in wrestling would be “the Walking Condominium” King Kong Bundy, who was 6-foot-4 and 458 pounds.
Got Milk? A gallon of milk weighs about 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Desmond Watson weighs about the same as 54.5 gallons of milk.
Building blocks. A standard cinder block weighs 30 pounds. Desmond Watson weighs a little more than 15 cinder blocks.
3 Tim Walters. OK, so I’m not the biggest guy. I’m all of 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds. Desmond Watson weighs three of me. My burly cousin Vincent, who’s 5-foot-9 and weighs 195 pounds with biceps thicker than my legs, met Watson at an event at The Swamp and he looked like a toddler next to him. The photo is included with this article.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Comparing Florida Gators star Desmond Watson to a fridge, the Fridge and other NFL players
Reporting by Tim Walters, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
