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Two WPIAL standouts drafted into the NFL

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 6 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Justin Watson excelled in two sports at South Fayette. He helped the Lions win a state championship in football and he played basketball.

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Troy Apke

When asked whether he saw the makings of a NFL draft pick in Justin Watson, South Fayette football coach Joe Rossi laughed and recalled the first time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ fifth-round pick attempted to catch a pass.

“The ball hit off Justin’s head,” Rossi said. “We nicknamed him ‘no-hands Watson’ after that.”

Within eight years, Justin developed into sure-hands Watson and the 144th player pick in the NFL Draft. He helped the Lions to a PIAA state championship his senior season by catching 73 passes for 1,568 yards and 22 TDs.

“Justin took the tools he had and worked hard,” Rossi said. “You just never know but for him, hard work and desire made him into the player he is today.”

After no Division I schools expressed interest in him, Watson went to the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with a degree from the prestigious Wharton School of Business with a plethora of school records as well as new Ivy League standards.

Watson further cemented his character and value to the NFL in general and the Buccaneers in particular when he participated in the East-West Shrine Game played in January at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. There he easily impressed Skylar Fulton, who was hired as the Bucs’ wide receivers coach this season.

According to Rossi, when Fulton asked the players if anyone wanted to play on special teams during the all-star contest. Watson volunteered immediately.

“Put me wherever you want me. I will play wherever you need me,” Rossi said Watson told him in a conversation on April 28 after he was drafted. “That is so typical of Justin and speaks to his character,” Rossi added. “He’s willing to do whatever it takes.”

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Justin Watson was the 2014 Almanac Athlete of the Year. He was presented the award from Lucy Corwin, director of news for the Observer Publishing Company.

With that attitude, Rossi predicts only success for the 6-3, 225-pound wide out, who was one of the most productive receivers in Ivy League and FCS history, registering over 1,000 yards in each of his last three seasons at Penn. He was also a 2015 All-Ivy selection and finished as the runner-up for Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, after recording 74 catches for 1,082 yards and nine receiving touchdowns.

During his senior year, he caught 81 passes for 1,083 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games. Penn won the Ivy League two times while Watson was on the team. The Pennsylvania-native garnered more attention at his pro day, where he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical leap. His time was made even more impressive considering his NFL size at 225 pounds.

Watson, who already has been assigned his jersey number (17), enters camp playing alongside veterans such as Mike Evans (1,001 yards on 71 catches), Adam Humphries (61 grabs for 631 yards) and DeSean Jackson (50 receptions for 668 yards).

“Justin has some of the best wide receivers to learn from and he will go in there and work his tail off,” Rossi said. “He has always played with a chip on his shoulder. He’s going into camp with something to prove. I’m excited. I can’t wait to see what happens. I think Tampa Bay is going to be very happy with him just as all of South Fayette is so pleased and proud of him.”

Rossi said he was touched that Watson took the time to phone him after he was drafted.

“Justin wanted to thank me. He said, ‘coach you know I always was a basketball and baseball man growing up but I fell in love with football because of you and the program at South Fayette.”

Apke to Washington

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Unlike Rossi’s intial regards of Watson’s prospects, Mt. Lebanon football coach Mike Melnyk knew Troy Apke had the potential to become a pro long before the Washington Redskins selected the 6-1, 198-pound Penn State safety in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft held April 26-28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Back when he was in high school, I told Troy that he had the talents to play in the NFL some day,” Melnyk said. “He was big, had great hands and was extraordinarily fast and that’s what separates athletes at every level.”

At Lebo, Apke not only separated himself as a safety, he excelled as a wide receiver with over 1,000 yards on 45 catches as a junior and 728 yards on 40 grabs as a senior. A three-year letterwinner and all-conference performer, he also won the 100-meter dash as a senior at the WPIAL track and field championships. He finished fifth in the state.

In addition to talent, speed and skill, work ethic also separated Apke from the pack.

“Troy was a hard worker so he had a chance to maximize his gifts,” Melnyk said.

At Penn State, Apke maximized his abilities enabling him to make his dream come true, added Melnyk.

Apke started as a special teams player for the Nittany Lions. He eventually became the team’s fourth-ranked tackler with 55 his senior season. An All-Big Ten, honorable-mention selection, he was chosen as the MVP of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after posting seven tackles, forcing a fumble and intercepting a pass. He had career-high eight tackles in games against Ohio State and Michigan State.

Athletics has been a family affair for Apke as he is the fifth among the clan to compete in college athletics. His parents, Steven and Susan, both attended the University of Pittsburgh and competed in football and track and field respectively. His sister, Chelsea, played basketball at Washington & Jefferson College. Another sister, Tess, played softball for Robert Morris.

“Troy comes from a close-knit family and it is great that he is going to be close enough that they will be able to attend games,” said Melnyk.

Melnyk is confident that Apke will be on the squad once the Redskins start their season.Washington’s pre-season begins Aug. 9 at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots and the home opener at FedEx Field in Landover will be on Sept. 16 against Indianapolis.

“He will have a transition period but I am sure he will perform very well when he gets the chance,” Melnyk said. He added, “Everybody in the Mt. Lebanon community and football program is very proud of Troy being selected in the NFL draft.”

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