Getty ImagesJ.J. Watt has become one of the dominant defensive linemen in the NFL.
But if his coaches at Central Michigan would have had their way, he’d be playing offense.
According to 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, the Chippewas wanted to convert Watt from tight end to tackle, which led to him walking away from a scholarship en route to Wisconsin.
“They missed out,” Staley said, via Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com. “They were like, ‘We’re going to move you to tackle now,’ and he was like, ‘Nah.’ I think he wanted a little more glory than what the tackle position offers so he moved and made himself into a hell of a player.”
The move worked for Staley, who became a first-round pick in 2007. That year, the CMU coaches tried moving Watt, but he resisted, leading to a pizza delivery job that covered his bills while he walked on at Wisconsin.
That made it reasonable to ask Staley if he’d have fared as well.
“I think so,” he said. “I’d be a dominant defensive player. I’d be in the mold of him and [49ers defensive end] Justin Smith.
“I’m kidding. I’ve never played defense in my life.”
And Watt is playing like few in the NFL at the moment.
Channel Finder
I could see why you want to have a freak of an athlete at the tackle position. Some of those freak athletes (Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden, Willie Roaf) had 10+ year careers, and got paid well for the time.
J.J. Watt would make a hell of a tight end if he wanted to be.
I wish guys still played two ways. I know it’s ridiculous and not worth the injury risk, but wouldn’t it be awesome to see Vernon Davis as a pass-rushing defensive end?
If Watt has hands he’d probably make a pretty good goal-line tight end, like the Pats used to do with Mike Vrabel.
How can you not respect a guy who walked away from a scholarship at one school and busts his hump with a pizza delivery job in order to be a walk on somewhere else because they wouldn’t let him be who he wanted to be.
Mad props.
Who’s got two thumbs and a J.J. Watt man-crush?
This guy!
If you have seen Watt’s TD vs the Bengals you know he could line up at TE right now and be a nasty goal line weapon.
J.J. Watt is extremely fun to watch. I think he could play both ways and make it happen. He’s got the potential to be that good no matter what position he plays.
That’s why they are college coaches, not NFL scouts
Is this the same guy who wanted Flacco to be a tight-end in college?
JJ probably could play tackle as well. My guess is he’d be starting for half of the teams at LT.
DPOY of the year. And if the voters werent so focused on offense, he’d get many MVP votes too!
he’s the best D lineman in the NFL today.
my fantasy team name is 1 POINT 21 JJWATTS
“I think so,” he said. “I’d be a dominant defensive player. I’d be in the mold of him and Justin Smith.
“I’m kidding. I’ve never played defense in my life.”
————
Liking Joe Staley a lot suddenly