Cliff Notes: Texas added former Ohio State defensive back Ryan Watts through the transfer portal on Wednesday night, becoming the second former Buckeye to commit to the Longhorns.
Rankings: Ryan Watts was regarded as a four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. Rivals rated Watts as a 5.8 prospect and a top-40 player in Texas in his class. The 247Sports composite rankings had Watts as the no. 202 overall prospect, whereas 247's own rankings ranked Watts in the top-150 nationally.
Key offers (out of high school): Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Penn State.
Evaluation: Rated among the top players at his position in the 2020 class, Ryan Watts has the skillset to be a major contributor on the collegiate level. Watts played in 19 games while in Columbus, starting the 2021 season opener against Minnesota. He played in seven games as a true freshman and grabbed two interceptions this past season. The talent and depth in the secondary at Ohio State, combined with the attraction of returning to the Lone Star State, played a role in Watts entering the portal.
On the field, there is not much to not like about what Watts brings to the table. Watts is a 6-3 and 186-pound defensive back with a great frame and length, giving him elite size to matchup with big receivers on the outside. He showcased the ability to man-up on receivers as well be physical in run support on the high school and the collegiate level. Watts has versatility in the sense that he can play multiple roles in the secondary if needed. He even played some receiver at Little Elm, which allowed him to show off his ball skills on both sides of the ball. Watt's physical profile -- he ran a 4.59 40 and recorded a 38-inch vertical jump in high school -- gives him a lot of upside to work with.
Why it matters: Ryan Watts has the ability to step in and compete for a starting role in the Longhorns' defense as soon as he steps onto campus. He is that good of a prospect and the need is there for immediate help in the defensive backfield. He gives defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski a big defender that can make an impact at different spots. Watts is also the third player that Texas has taken from Ohio State this month, joining Quinn Ewers and Terrance Brooks.
Rankings: Ryan Watts was regarded as a four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. Rivals rated Watts as a 5.8 prospect and a top-40 player in Texas in his class. The 247Sports composite rankings had Watts as the no. 202 overall prospect, whereas 247's own rankings ranked Watts in the top-150 nationally.
Key offers (out of high school): Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Penn State.
Evaluation: Rated among the top players at his position in the 2020 class, Ryan Watts has the skillset to be a major contributor on the collegiate level. Watts played in 19 games while in Columbus, starting the 2021 season opener against Minnesota. He played in seven games as a true freshman and grabbed two interceptions this past season. The talent and depth in the secondary at Ohio State, combined with the attraction of returning to the Lone Star State, played a role in Watts entering the portal.
On the field, there is not much to not like about what Watts brings to the table. Watts is a 6-3 and 186-pound defensive back with a great frame and length, giving him elite size to matchup with big receivers on the outside. He showcased the ability to man-up on receivers as well be physical in run support on the high school and the collegiate level. Watts has versatility in the sense that he can play multiple roles in the secondary if needed. He even played some receiver at Little Elm, which allowed him to show off his ball skills on both sides of the ball. Watt's physical profile -- he ran a 4.59 40 and recorded a 38-inch vertical jump in high school -- gives him a lot of upside to work with.
Why it matters: Ryan Watts has the ability to step in and compete for a starting role in the Longhorns' defense as soon as he steps onto campus. He is that good of a prospect and the need is there for immediate help in the defensive backfield. He gives defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski a big defender that can make an impact at different spots. Watts is also the third player that Texas has taken from Ohio State this month, joining Quinn Ewers and Terrance Brooks.
