Former Syracuse DL Maraad Watson reportedly signs with Texas
Maraad Watson was named a freshman All-American before reportedly transferring to Texas on Tuesday. Jacob Halsema | Staff Photographer
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Former Syracuse defensive tackle Maraad Watson, who became a freshman All-American in his lone season at SU, has signed with Texas, On3 reported Tuesday. Watson was the No. 2-ranked player still in the transfer portal.
Watson became a force on SU’s defensive line in his freshman campaign, starting 11 games and recording 31 total tackles. He was a focal point of the interior after injuries to Dion Wilson Jr. and Kevin Jobity Jr. The freshman improved throughout the season, tallying five tackles in SU’s Holiday Bowl win.
In a shocking move, Watson entered the transfer portal Friday. He was ranked the No. 1 available player in the portal for a few days. Watson visited Texas and the defending national champions, Ohio State, last week, reportedly showing interest in both schools.
As a three-star recruit out of Irvington, New Jersey, Watson flipped from Kent State to Syracuse a few weeks after head coach Fran Brown took over. He picked up an offer from the Orange on Dec. 6, 2023, and signed his letter of intent two weeks later, choosing SU over SEC powerhouse Tennessee after a visit from head coach Josh Heupel.
When Watson took the field for the final time in a Syracuse uniform in its spring game on April 12, he starred alongside Wilson on the first team, donning orange jerseys. On the second unit, the blue team, Marshall transfer Chris Thomas Jr. played next to redshirt junior Isaiah Hastings. Thomas will now step into a larger role as the Orange will also lean on returners Hastings, Rashard Perry, Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff and Jobity for depth.
Watson is the first SU player to commit to another team during the spring transfer portal. He’ll likely compete for a national title with the Longhorns as Arch Manning takes over at quarterback in Steve Sarkisian’s fifth season.
