The postseason honors have not stopped rolling in for Mississippi State co-captain and linebacker Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson, who on Monday was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.
The AP had already honored Watson as the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, although the SEC coaches chose Alabama’s Dallas Turner for the award. Turner edged Watson in tackles for loss, but Watson had more total tackles, sacks and quarterback hurries, and also recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass.
Watson was named to the all-SEC first team by both the coaches and the AP, and was given second-team All-American honors by College Football Network. He was also a finalist for the Butkus Award, which honors the best linebacker in college football, and was the Bulldogs’ nominee for the C Spire Conerly Trophy, presented each year to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi.
That awards haul comes after Watson put together a stellar sixth and final season with MSU. He led the SEC in tackles (137) and sacks (10), moving into fourth place in conference history with 377 career tackles. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice, following wins over Arkansas and Southern Miss, and he saved some of his best performances for last, racking up 21 tackles in each of his last two games.
A native of Maplesville, Ala., Watson has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. He started 36 out of 37 games for the Bulldogs over the last three years.
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