31 Days 'till kickoff - #31 Ben Watkins

It's now 31 days until kickoff of Catamount football at Floyd Stadium, home of the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State on August 29th in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

To help pass those long summer days until football season starts, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, we'll continue with the 100 day football countdown to kickoff.

#31 Ben Watkins

Class: Senior
Hometown: Marietta, Ga.
High School: Pope HS
Last College: Univ. of Findlay
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 200
Position: DB



2012 (Junior): Played in all 11 games with one start on defense ... Also saw extensive time on special teams ... Made his WCU debut and first start in the season opener against Mars Hill ... Recorded 12 tackles on the season including six solo stops ... Named to the 2012-13 Southern Conference Honor Roll ... Posted a career-high five tackles in the opener against Mars Hill ... Spent the summer working as an intern for the Catamount Club.

2011 (Sophomore): Transferred prior to the 2011 season ... Named the defensive scout team player of the week following the Georgia Southern game. Prior to Western Carolina: Spent one season at the Univ. of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio; High School: Graduated from Pope High with a 3.6 cumulative GPA ... Named to the second team All-Defense in Cobb County, while also representing the county in the Senior Bowl.

Personal: Is the son of Thom and Jane Watkins ... Was born in Naperville, Ill. ... Has two siblings; Sallie Watkins Robinson and a twin sister, Shelley ... His father, Thom, was an all-conference lineman at Souteast Missouri State.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations