Nathaniel Watson Makes AP All-American Third Team

Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel "Bookie" Watson was named a member of the AP All-American Third Team on Monday.

Watson has gained a ton of recognition over the past couple of weeks, and so far he's been named to the All-SEC Coaches First Team, received College Football Network All-America honors, College Football Network First Team All-SEC honors, AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year and AP All-SEC First Team honors.

A six-year veteran of the program, Watson was a 3-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class and held offers from other SEC programs, including the likes of Ole Miss. He opted to choose maroon and white over powder blue, and arrived in Starkville as a true freshman that fall.

Watson had to wait until his fourth (junior) season to be named a starter and finished second on the team in tackles with 84 to go along with 6.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.

As a senior, he again finished as one of the team's leading tacklers, and even was one of the top tacklers in the entire SEC. But he truly emerged as an elite talent this season, as he totaled a whopping 137 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks. He led the entire SEC in tackles and sacks.

Watson recently announced his declaration for the NFL Draft on November 29 with a post on X, but will forever be remembered by fans as one of the best to ever suit up for the Bulldogs.

AP All-American First Team

Offense

Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, LSU.

Running backs: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State; Cody Schrader, Missouri.

Tackles: Joe Alt, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, Penn State.

Guards: Cooper Beebe, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, Michigan.

Center: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon.

Tight end: Brock Bowers, Georgia.

Wide receivers: Malik Nabers, LSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State; Rome Odunze, Washington.

All-purpose player: Travis Hunter, Colorado.

Kicker: Graham Nicholson, Miami (Ohio).

Defense

Edge rushers: Laiatu Latu, UCLA; Jalen Green, James Madison.

Interior linemen: T’Vondre Sweat, Texas; Jer’Zahn Newton, Illinois.

Linebackers: Payton Wilson, North Carolina State; Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M; Dallas Turner, Alabama.

Cornerbacks: Cooper DeJean, Iowa; Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama.

Safeties: Malaki Starks, Georgia; Xavier Watts, Notre Dame.

Defensive back: Terrion Arnold, Alabama.

Punter: Tory Taylor, Iowa.

AP All-American Second Team

Offense

Quarterback: Michael Penix Jr., Washington.

Running backs: Audric Estime, Notre Dame; Omarion Hampton, North Carolina.

Tackles: Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State; JC Latham, Alabama.

Guards: Tate Ratledge, Georgia; Clay Webb, Jacksonville State.

Center: Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia.

Tight ends: Dallin Holker, Colorado State.

Wide receivers: Troy Franklin, Oregon; Malik Washington, Virginia; Luther Burden III, Missouri.

All-purpose player: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State.

Kicker: Jose Pizano, UNLV.

Defense

Edge rushers: Jonah Elliss, Utah; Jared Verse, Florida State.

Interior linemen: Byron Murphy II, Texas; Howard Cross III, Notre Dame.

Linebackers: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson; Jason Henderson, Old Dominion; Jay Higgins, Iowa.

Cornerbacks: Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo; Beanie Bishop Jr., West Virginia.

Safeties: Tyler Nubin, Minnesota; Caleb Downs, Alabama.

Defensive back: Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri.

Punter: Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt.

AP All-American Third Team

Offense

Quarterback: Bo Nix, Oregon.

Running backs: Blake Corum, Michigan; Kimani Vidal, Troy.

Tackles: Javon Foster, Missouri; Troy Fautanu, Washington.

Guards: Christian Haynes, UConn; Luke Kandra, Cincinnati.

Center: Zach Frazier, West Virginia.

Tight end: Ben Sinnott, Kansas State.

Wide receivers: Ricky White, UNLV; Brian Thomas Jr., LSU; Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona.

All-purpose player: Xavier Worthy, Texas.

Kicker: Will Reichard, Alabama.

Defense

Edge rushers: Chop Robinson, Penn State; Bralen Trice, Washington.

Interior linemen: Kris Jenkins, Michigan; Braden Fiske, Florida State.

Linebackers: Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State; Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington; Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma.

Cornerbacks: Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin; T.J. Tampa, Iowa State.

Safeties: Trey Taylor, Air Force; Dillon Thieneman, Purdue.

Defensive back: Sebastian Castro, Iowa.

Punter: James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State.