Manchester’s Menelik Watson is officially an Oakland Raider, after he was selected with the 42nd pick of the NFL Draft.
The 24-year-old offensive tackle – who grew up in Longsight – only took up football two years ago, playing just 20 college games.
The 6ft 5in former Florida State star said he is thrilled to be going to the Raiders – the team whose jersey he used to wear as a kid.
“It is very exciting – I cannot wait to get going,” he said. “I have a job to do now so I cannot wait to get to work.
“When I was a kid I knew nothing about American football but I had an Oakland Raiders jersey for some reason and I don’t know where it came from or how we got it.
“I think it’s my older brother’s and I don’t know how he got it but I used to wear that Oakland Raiders’ jersey religiously so it’s really strange that I’m getting drafted for them.
“I think it’s still back in my wardrobe back home in England.”
The Raiders originally held the third overall pick in the draft but they traded that to the Miami Dolphins for the 12th and 42nd selections, the latter of which was used on Watson.
Oakland is renowned as a tough city with some of the most passionate fans in the NFL and Watson said he cannot wait to run out in front of “Raider Nation”.
“That’s me to a T,” Watson said of his new home.
“I didn’t really want to go [to the Draft] because I’m not really into the glitz and the glamour. I’m really a work guy. I really just want to hurry up and get to work.
“I don’t go out and I’m not into the nightlife. I wanted to get myself a job and get myself an occupation. I think that’s pretty much it. That’s me to a T.”
Raiders head coach Dennis Allen is thrilled to have the chance to work with Watson and is adamant that his best football is ahead of him.
“This guy played at Florida State at a very high level of competition and he played extremely well,” he said.
“We like his athleticism. We like the fact that he has been a boxer and he has been a basketball player so he has got excellent feet for the position.
“We think he is a very good addition. This was a guy we had rated as one of the top tackles on our draft board.
“This guy has got tremendous upside – I have no doubt that he will develop into a very solid NFL player.”
Image courtesy of Seminoles.com, via YouTube, with thanks
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