South Fayette grad makes NFL roster

South Fayette graduate and rookie wide receiver Justin Watson made the 53-man roster for Tampa Bay.
During the preseason, he led the Buccaneers in catches and receiving yards. He also finished tied for the team-high in touchdown receptions.
Watson had 12 receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns during the preseason.
The 6-3, 225-pound wideout was one of six receivers maintained. The Bucs started training camp with a solid core of Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries and Chris Godwin, but added Watson and Freddie Martino.
According to the Bucs, Watson, who played his college ball at the University of Pennsylvania, offers deep potential as a big and fast pass-catcher in the mold of Mike Evans. He was the team’s fifth-round draft pick in April.
To date, Watson has had a successful career that began at South Fayette High School, where he led the Lions to a PIAA state championship his senior season by catching 73 passes for 1,568 yards and 22 TDs.
At Penn, he set the Ivy League on fire, becoming the league’s and the FCS’s most productive receiver in history, registering over 1,000 yards in each of his last three seasons.
“Justin took the tools he had and worked hard,” said his high school coach Joe Rossi. “For him, hard work and desire made him into the player he is today.”
While the Buccaneers open the season at New Orleans at 1 p.m. Sept. 9, Watson has Sept. 24 circled on his calendar. Not only will it be his first Monday Night Football appearance, it would be the first time he faces the Steelers. While the game is in Tampa, someday it may be at Heinz Field, where Watson played and helped South Fayette capture a WPIAL championship before winning a PIAA state title.
“To play in Heinz Field again would be pretty special because my career would have come full circle from playing there in high school to becoming a pro. That would be very cool.”