© PA Wire
Desmond Watson would make NFL history as the heaviest prospect to be taken in the draft if he gets selected next week in Green Bay.
But the Florida Gators product knows 464 pounds isn’t conducive to a long NFL career, even at 6-foot-6.
Watson was asked by Fox Sports what he was doing to shed weight before entering the league, and he knows where to start.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Stopping while driving," Watson responded. "My biggest thing is keep going, get to where I need to get. There are stores and a lot of temptations. That’s helped me immensely. Don’t go inside the gas station. Pay at the pump. Because, inside, it’s snacks and all types of things like that. Don’t pull over. If you’re on the highway, stay on the highway until you get where you’ve got to go."
Watson turned heads when he walked onto campus in Gainesville at 385 pounds in 2021. Four years later, he’s about 80 pounds heavier than the current heaviest player in the NFL, Baltimore Ravens lineman Daniel Faalele, who was listed at 380 pounds last season.
Weight loss has been something brought up with the Gators’ program, but Watson has continued to gain it since stepping foot on campus.
NFL PROSPECT DESMOND WATSON SEEKS TO BECOME HEAVIEST PLAYER DRAFTED IN LEAGUE HISTORY
"It’s been like my same problem — not problem — but my same concern throughout college," he said. "I’m getting more in-depth, getting a better grasp of the things I need to do to be successful at the next level. It’s been interesting. I’ve learned a lot about myself in this process."
Watson said people in his life have taught him to treat his eating habits like "another addiction."
And he knows just how serious it can get.
"It’s not drugs, but it’s addicting, whether that’s gaming, drugs, alcohol. I think this is my vice. I’m just trying to get a hold of it. Just like drugs can kill you, this can do the same thing. I’m trying to change my life."
While Watson’s weight may be a cause of concern for NFL teams, the potential is certainly there for the Gators' defensive tackle who benched 225 pounds 36 times. It would’ve been the highest total of reps at the NFL Scouting Combine if Watson had been invited.
Instead, he showcased his power and other skills to NFL teams at Florida’s Pro Day, which included a 25-inch vertical leap and a 5.93-second 40-yard dash.
If he is drafted, Watson is expected to go in the later rounds in Green Bay.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Rashford starred for Villa as they pushed PSG to the edge in their Champions League quarter-final second leg
© Getty Images
Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison is still weathering the storm caused by fans’ backlash over the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
That trade hasn’t looked good for the Mavericks since it went down in the late hours on Feb. 1, as they barely hung on to a Play-In Tournament seed (No. 10), where they will face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday after finishing 39-43 during the regular season.
But despite the outrage from the fan base, as well as the 13-20 record since trading Doncic, Harrison said "no regrets" have come about making the deal with the Lakers.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Harrison spoke to media members on Tuesday, alongside Mavericks CEO Rick Welts, where only Dallas-based reporters were present to ask questions.
"There’s no regrets on the trade," Harrison said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. "Part of my job is to do the best thing for the Mavericks, not only today, but also in the future, and some of the decisions I’m going to make are going to be unpopular.
"That’s my job, and I have to stand by it."
MAVERICKS FANS EJECTED OVER ‘FIRE NICO’ PROTESTS AMID GROWING ANIMOSITY OVER LUKA DONCIC TRADE
Harrison also continued his stance that "defense wins championships," which is what he said when acquiring All-Star center Anthony Davis, the highlight of the Lakers’ package for Doncic.
"But our philosophy, like I said, going forward is defense wins championships, and we’re built on defense," Harrison explained, via ESPN. "And this trade cements us for that."
Davis, though, has played only nine games in a Mavericks uniform since being traded, as he suffered a left abductor injury during his team debut. Also, Kyrie Irving, the dynamic point guard who worked alongside Doncic well on their way to the NBA Finals last season, suffered a torn ACL after the trade, creating a massive loss in the starting five.
The Doncic deal surprised quite literally the entire basketball world, but Harrison was very secretive about dealing with the Lakers because he said, "You can’t shop your best player."
"It’s not responsible because a trade might not work," Harrison said, per The Athletic. "And then they have to ultimately play under the scrutiny of being shopped."
The deal wasn’t something fans wanted to see, and they’ve let it be known by having a "funeral" with a casket and all outside American Airlines Center in Dallas, the home of the Mavericks, while there have been consistent "Fire Nico" chants at home games with the team struggling.
It got to its loudest when Doncic returned to Dallas in a Lakers uniform on April 10, and he proceeded to drop 45 points in the 112-97 victory for his new team.
MacMahon reports that the team is "projected to lose dozens of millions" in this season alone, as Mavs fans refuse to show up for games, while merchandise sales are down and even sponsors have split from the organization.
"Well, the beauty of Dallas is it is a passionate fan base," Harrison added. "For us to reach out goals, we need that fan base.
"And to be honest with you, every trade I’ve ever made since I’ve been here has not been regarded as a good trade, and so sometimes it takes time. When I traded for Kyrie, it was met with a lot of skepticism, and it was graded as a terrible trade, and you didn’t see it right away, but eventually everyone agreed that that was a great trade."
Harrison is hoping time is more gracious with the Mavericks with this deal, one that sent the face of the franchise out west.
The Lakers have gone 22-13 since the Doncic trade.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sean Higgins, the man charged in the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, will stand trial this summer on the original charges in his indictment after a New Jersey judge denied his defense attorney's contention that the brothers' own drinking contributed to their deaths.
Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio made his ruling in court Tuesday after nearly two hours of arguments, ultimately deciding all charges against Higgins would be upheld.
"There’s no credence in the argument there was contributory negligence on the part of the cyclists," Silvanio said.
Assistant Prosecutor Michael Mestern added during the hearing the defense’s argument was "a reach to say the least."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
According to court records, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau both had a blood-alcohol level of .129 or above when they were riding their bicycles along the side of a road Aug. 29 on the eve of their sister's wedding.
They were killed when Higgins allegedly struck them with his vehicle while attempting to pass a vehicle on the right side. But witness testimony supported that the brothers were not riding the bicycles recklessly.
"There are four witnesses that witnessed the defendant speeding and illegally passing the Bronco on the right when he struck the brothers. The witnesses also saw the brothers riding single file, with the flow of traffic, on the fog line just prior to being struck by the defendant," Mestern wrote in a memo this month.
LATE NHL STAR JOHNNY GAUDREAU'S WIFE ANNOUNCES BIRTH OF SON 7 MONTHS AFTER HIS TRAGIC DEATH
Higgins’ blood-alcohol level was .087, which is over the .080 legal limit in New Jersey.
He was charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide, evidence tampering and leaving the scene of an accident. He also admitted to police that he had been drinking that day, including while he was driving.
Higgins’ attorneys said the motion was not to place blame on the brothers and argued that the grand jury did not hear all the facts before it approved charges.
Higgins pleaded not guilty in January and could face up to 70 years in prison if found guilty on all charges. He is due back in court June 10.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
It's been just a couple of years since Arch Manning was arguably the most highly sought-after high school recruit in the nation. He ultimately decided to take his potential and high-profile last name to Austin.
When Quinn Ewers declared for the NFL Draft, it opened the door for Manning to become the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns in 2025.
During Manning's time on the bench, the young quarterback faced questions about whether he would leave Texas for another program that would give him an opportunity to play right away.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Manning recently spoke to the media ahead of his first anticipated season as the Longhorns full-time starter.
"It was tough. I mean, it’s tough in this age," Manning, 19, noted when he spoke about waiting his turn, according to The Athletic. "Sometimes it’s worth the wait."
TEXAS' ARCH MANNING ADDS TO GROWING NIL VALUATION, INKS DEAL WITH CLOTHING COMPANY
Manning then doubled down on his commitment to the Longhorns and said he hopes to remain in Austin for the foreseeable future.
"But I hope it pays off. There’s nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I’ve got friends here. I love this place. So, I want to be the quarterback at the University of Texas."
Arch is the son of Cooper Manning. His grandfather, Archie Manning, was enshrined in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame shortly after he retired from the NFL. Archie spent more than a decade as the Saints' quarterback. Arch is also the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.
The younger Manning will now be tasked with leading Texas to a national championship, something the program hasn't achieved since 2005.
Manning appeared in 10 games last season, including two he started in place of an injured Ewers. The young quarterback finished the 2024 season with 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
Texas defeated Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff, before a thrilling overtime victory over Arizona State in the quarterfinal. The eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes eliminated the Longhorns from playoff contention in January.
Texas opens the 2025 season against the Buckeyes in Columbus Aug. 30.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Bill Belichick is apparently well aware that if things don't go smoothly in Chapel Hill, he can face some tough social media jargon.
The 72-year-old joined UNC to become its head football coach after being away from the sidelines in 2024 for the first time in nearly five decades.
But as Belichick's career has progressed, so has social media, and he's clearly no stranger to how people can operate online.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
According to a recent report by The Athletic, citing emails obtained through an open records request, Belichick emailed school officials showing his concern about potentially being called a "predator" online. Belichick is currently dating 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, who is also included in emails with the university.
"Is there anyone monitoring the UNC Football page for slanderous commentary and subsequently deleting it / blocking users that are harassing BB in the comments?" Hudson reportedly asked on Feb. 13.
Belichick reportedly followed up the next day, "I cannot believe that UNC would support my being called a ‘predator.'"
Robbi Pickeral Evans, UNC senior associate athletic director for external affairs and strategic communications, replied that the social media team hides or erases comments about personal life.
BILL BELICHICK'S GIRLFRIEND MAKES PECULIAR APPEARANCE AT UNC FOOTBALL PRACTICE
"UNC would NEVER support," Evans reportedly said in her reply.
Hudson also reportedly expressed concerns about fans calling out "nepotism," given that Belichick's son, Steve, is the team's defensive coordinator.
The two were linked romantically last year and have recently "discussed marriage," according to Page Six. Belichick, 72, and Hudson, 24, met on a flight headed to Boston in 2021 and apparently hit it off.
The two were first publicly linked last year, three years after meeting on the flight. They apparently got more serious after his breakup with Linda Holliday in 2022.
At the NFL Honors, Belichick wore all eight of his Super Bowl rings, including the pair he won with the New York Giants as their defensive coordinator. Hudson wore a national championship ring she won for cheerleading in 2021.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
