There were a lot of career firsts in Florida’s 33-8 victory over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl. Myles Graham and Alfonzo Allen recorded their first career interceptions while KD Daniels and Anthony Rubio found the endzone for the first time. But perhaps the most exciting singular play throughout the contest was a one-yard carry.
Late in the 4th quarter with the game out of reach, No.21 was called to execute a 3rd and one from Tulane’s 26-yard line. Except it wasn’t freshman running back KD Daniels (who also wears No.21), it was 6’5, 449-pound defensive tackle Desmond Watson.
Ever since the 400+ pound lineman stepped on campus back in 2021, fans on social media have raved about a potential goal line package with the heaviest player in college football. As crazy as it sounded, the logic was sound. Who’s going to stop a 449-pound human from gaining just a few feet?
Watson trotted out on the field and the fans inside Raymond James Stadium stood on their feet in anticipation for what was about to happen. All eyes were on No.21 when he took the handoff, who stood alongside quarterback Aidan Warner as the lone back in shotgun formation. Tulane’s defensive front knew Watson was getting the ball, but it didn’t matter. Watson plowed his way through a Tulane box filled with 10 defenders to gain the one yard he needed to move the chains. Green Wave linebacker Chris Rodgers, who weighs 223 pounds, shot through the gap making initial contact with Watson roughly three yards before the line to gain. Watson simply ran right through Rodgers, falling forward to reach the first down marker by a couple of inches.
WATCH: Desmond Watson’s one yard run
“It was great,” Watson said on running the ball. “Since I came to college, every time I would go on the internet, I would see somebody saying that I should be on some type of package, getting the ball, especially wearing number 21, a running back number. I never really looked too much into it and I never went and told to Napier about it, but I feel like he’s seen it too- great moment to finish off my career as a Florida Gator.”
Watson lined up as a fullback on the very next play, creating a lane for walk-on running back Anthony Rubio by blocking two guys at once. Watson’s two offensive plays wasn’t an on-the-fly decision; the Gators staff created the ‘hawk package’ in the weeks leading up the bowl game, a series of plays for Watson named after his high school’s mascot.
“It was actually a goal line package. We never really got [close enough],” Napier said postgame. “We finally made a decision, I was like ‘look guys, the next time we have a short yardage situation, the ‘Hawk package'”.
The hawk package was originally designed for Watson to serve as a blocker and a decoy on a play action pass, but with the influence of his teammates, Napier created a run play for the defensive tackle.
“I sent Des a picture of the play. We started out as we had a run and he was the blocker, and a play-action pass where he was kind of the decoy,” Napier said. “And then just watching our players when we put that package in, the guys were like ‘Hey, give him the ball, coach. Give him the ball’. And we literally put the play in on the field. So, heck of a way to finish his career.”
You never know what to expect from bowl games, but Watson created a memory that Gator fans will talk about for a long time.
“Final game of the year, we’re going back home to Tampa, Plant City right down the road, been thinking about it the whole year, and Des has played really good,” Napier said postgame. “Bowl games, you are looking for buttons to push, and I think this one helped our team. You saw that sideline light up when he ran out there. A lot of fun, and he did a great job, I think the guys rallied around him, and all those plays were successful.”
The reaction on Florida’s sideline said it all. Billy Napier gave a double fist pump while teammates Austin Barber and Elijhah Badger were filled with pure joy following Watson’s first down run.
Watson struck the Heisman pose on the sideline following his first career carry, the cherry on top of a great night for the Gators senior.
“They was begging me to do it.”