Counting down the ACC's top 30 players: No. 18

News - Football

Written by Heather Dinich/ESPN.com

No. 18. Dekoda Watson, LB, Florida State, Sr., 6-2, 232

Watson

Why he's here: He's one of Florida State's top defenders, and on a team that lost six starters on defense, he'll be needed even more this fall. Watson is fast, strong, explosive, has great NFL potential and has the ability to make game-changing plays. He scored his second career touchdown on a 51-yard fumble return against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl. Against Colorado, Watson had 10 tackles and a blocked punt that was scored as a safety. Odds are that won't be his last blocked punt.

Watson has gained about five pounds and was one of Bruce Feldman's "Workout Warriors" for his 48-inch chest and 26-inch waist. As Watson told the Orlando Sentinel, he's got "abs to my throat almost." Last year he averaged a career-high 4.6 tackles per game, but increased that to seven tackles per game over the final four regular season games. He also had eight tackles for loss.

No. 19 Nate Irving, NC State

No. 20 Chris Chancellor, Clemson
No. 21 Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech
No. 22 Christian Ponder, Florida State
No. 23 Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
No. 24 Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
No. 25 Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
No. 26 John Russell, Wake Forest
No. 27 Riley Skinner, Wake Forest
No. 28 Vic Hall, Virginia
No. 29 Da'Rel Scott, Maryland
No. 30 Matt Bosher, Miami