One of the latest prospects to explode onto the recruiting scene is South Aiken (Aiken, S.C.) star defensive end/linebacker Dekoda Watson. The 6-2, 206-pound prospect landed four new Division 1A scholarship offers with an outstanding performance during the NC/SC Shrine Bowl week. He has since scheduled four official visits with 1A programs.

“We thought he performed real well [at the Shrine Bowl],” South Aiken Head Coach Dan Pippin said. “Normally, we play him with his hand on the ground at defensive end. The Shrine Bowl coaches kind of caught him off guard when he was asked to play outside linebacker. It was amazing that he played as well as he did without ever playing the position.”

Watson was a 3-year starter on the varsity level and, this past season as a senior, he earned all-state honors for his performance. He racked up around 110 tackles with 23 tackles-for-loss and 11 sacks this past season. He earned all-region honors each of the past two seasons.

In terms of where Watson projects on the next level, Pippin says “a lot of coaches have come through and it really depends on the school. He’s such a good athlete that I think he could play wherever they ask…obviously except for lineman or whatever.”

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