Amir Watts

Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics

Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics

Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics

Position:
DL
Class:
Freshman
Height:
6-3
Weight:
270
Hometown:
Chicago, IL
High School:
Wendell Phillips Academy

2019: Played in all 13 games, starting 11 at defensive tackle…received Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition…compiled 25 tackles, seven TFLs and two sacks on the year…had a career-high five stops and 2.5 TFLs against Delaware…had four tackles and a TFL assist at Virginia Tech…had an eight-yard sack at Duke.

2018: Played in all 14 games, making 10 starts at defensive tackle…totaled 18 tackles, three TFLs, one sack and an interception…had a season-high four tackles against Virginia Tech…made a crucial play in Pitt’s 54-45 victory over Duke when he sacked Daniel Jones for an eight-yard loss with 1:25 left, forcing a Blue Devils punt and setting the stage for the Panthers’ game-winning touchdown drive…had the first interception of his career in Pitt’s 44-37 overtime win over Syracuse…snagged an Eric Dungey pass over the middle and the Panthers parlayed the turnover into a field goal and 20-14 second-quarter lead…it was the first INT by a Pitt interior defensive lineman since Chas Alecxih against Buffalo on Sept. 3, 2011.

2017: Played in all 12 games, starting the final four contests of the year at defensive tackle…had 16 tackles, five TFLs and one sack on the season…had a season-high three stops—and a career-best 1.5 TFLs—against NC State…matched his season best with three tackles in the regular-season finale against Miami, a 24-14 upset of the No. 2 Hurricanes…had an 11-yard sack against Youngstown State.

2016: Played in seven games as a true freshman defensive tackle, making one start (at Clemson)…totaled three tackles on the season…had a season-high two stops against Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl.

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned acclaim as one of the country's top defensive tackle prospects...compiled 135 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior...Chicago Tribune All-State...American Family Insurance ALL-USA Illinois Football Team...Chicago Sun-Times All-Public League...Chicago Public League Football Coaches Association All-Illini Conference...led Phillips to the Class 4A state championship with a devastating performance in the title game...collected seven tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and added a 19-yard fumble return for a touchdown in a 51-7 win over Belleville Althoff...Phillips finished with a 14-0 record and became the first Chicago Public League team to claim a football state title...selected to play in the prestigious Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl...rated the nation's No. 25 defensive tackle by Rivals and No. 37 by 247Sports...rated the No. 7 overall prospect in Illinois by Rivals, No. 10 by 247Sports, No. 12 by Scout and No. 23 by ESPN...played under Coach Troy McAllister.

PERSONAL: Amir Watts, born 1/14/98, is the son of Afia Watts and Benyusef Ali...has seven sisters and five brothers...administration of justice major.