#3 Jaylen Watson Season 2025-26

2026 Honors -- One of six juniors named to 2026 Player Council... 2026 -- Started at defensive back in first five games... has 15 tackles (11 solo, four assists) and six pass break-ups on the season... ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation in passes defended per game (1.20)... matched a career-high six solo tackles and two pass break-ups in 14-31 loss to #5/6 Ohio State... recorded five tackles (two solo, career-high three assists) and his first pass break-up of the season in 16-13 win over Iowa State... collected three tackles (two solo, one assist) and a career-high three pass break-ups in 20-19 come-frome-behind win at #18 Michigan... collected one solo tackle in 55-0 shutout over UNI.

2025 Honors -- Academic All-Big Ten... Hustle Award, special teams. 2025 -- Played in all 13 games, starting in two games... recorded 15 tackles (13 solo, two assists) on the season... collected a career-high seven tackles (career-high six solo, one assist) in 34-27 win over #14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl... recorded two solo tackles and his first career pass break-up in 40-16 win at Nebraska... collected two solo tackles in 20-17 win over Michigan State... recorded two tackles (one solo, one assist) in 47-7 win over UMass... letterwinner.

2024 Honors -- Next Man In Award, special teams. 2024 -- Played in 10 games... had five tackles (three solo, two assists) on the season... recorded first career tackles (one solo, one assist) in 7-35 loss at #3/3 Ohio State... recorded one solo tackle in 40-14 win over Northwestern and 17-20 loss at UCLA... collected one assisted tackle in 40-16 win over Washington... letterwinner.

 

 

High School Honors -- First-team all-state, all-region and all-conference as a senior… earned the team’s Iron Man Award as a junior… recognized as the team’s offensive MVP as a sophomore… team captain as a junior. Career -- Two-time football letterman playing defensive back and wide receiver… Toledo Central Catholic claimed a state title, winning all 16 games his senior year… amassed 1,102 receiving yards on 62 catches; 164 rushing yards; 16 total touchdowns; over 15 tackles; four pass break-ups and only one ball caught in coverage as a senior… his 1,102 receiving yards are the most in the Catholic High School League in 2023… had 227 receiving yards and three scores on 24 catches in only four games played… totaled 556 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 42 receptions as a sophomore.

Personal -- Born 10/20/2005… sport and recreation major… parents are Jason Watson and Latoya Pillow… has four younger sisters… former Hawkeye running back Fred Russell (2001-03) is an uncle… Honor Roll… high school coach was Greg Dempsey..