ARLINGTON, Texas – A pair of Texas A&M football standouts heard their names called on the final day of the 2018 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Being selected on the third day of the draft were defensive back Armani Watts and wide receiver Damion Ratley. Watts was taken in the fourth round (No. 124 overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs, while Ratley picked in the sixth round (No. 175) by the Cleveland Browns.
Watts, from Forney, Texas, was a four-year starter for the Aggies and earned first-team All-SEC honors and third-team Associated Press All-America honors as a senior. One of college football’s most consistent producers of big plays over the past four years, Watts finished his career with an amazing 328 tackles, 214 solo stops, 24.0 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 19 passes broken up, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries to his credit.
His strong senior season included 87 tackles, including 10.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two blocked kicks in 12 regular season games. Watts posted double-digit tackles in four games, including a season-high 13 vs. UCLA. Perhaps his biggest play of the season was his pickoff in the endzone that clinched the Aggies’ 50-43 overtime win over Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Ratley, from Yoakum, Texas via Blinn Junior College, was one of the most dangerous deep threats in the SEC with an impressive 23.1 yards per catch average, which ranked No. 4 nationally. The senior grabbed 30 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns and was critical down the stretch with 17 catches for 387 yards and six scores in the last five games of the season. For his career, Ratley made 47 catches for 920 yards and eight touchdowns.
Aggies in the 2018 NFL Draft
Christian Kirk (WR), 2nd Round, No. 47 overall, Arizona Cardinals
Armani Watts (DB), 4th Round, No. 124 overall, Kansas City Chiefs
Damion Ratley (WR), 6th Round, No. 175 overall, Cleveland Browns
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics