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Florida DL Desmond Watson hilariously describes first career carry in Gasparilla Bowl
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Florida fan favorite Desmond Watson heard the roars at Raymond James Stadium.
The game was long decided, with his Florida Gators rolling to a 26-0 lead over Tulane in Friday’s Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. So, it wasn’t exactly a dramatic moment when the 6-foot-5, 449-pound behemoth of a defensive lineman lined up in the Gators’ offensive backfield on a 3rd-and-1 play from the Tulane 26-yard line and a little over 4 minutes left.
But that hardly means it wasn’t a memorable moment. The fans — at least those wearing orange and blue — were roaring because they wanted to see Watson take the handoff and deliver some punishment to the Green Wave defense. Well, they got what they wanted, as Watson rumbled for exactly the 1 yard that Florida needed to get the first down and keep the drive alive.
The crowd was going crazy, and Watson heard it all. He was happy to give everybody that special moment, which by the way led to Florida’s final touchdown in a 33-8 victory that got the revitalized Gators to 8 wins in 2024.
“It was big. Since I’ve been here on (X), everybody has been begging for me to get the ball,” said Watson. “I think it was a great way to end my career as a Florida Gator.”
Now, most Florida fans will remember Watson for that 1 career carry rather than any incredible defensive play he made in Gainesville.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
