JJ Watt reveals he was a Miami football fan during visit
Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt visited the Miami football facilities while in town for the Miami Grand Prix this weekend. In a tweet on Saturday, Watt stated he was a Hurricanes fan while growing up in Wisconsin. Watt was there with his brother, Pittsburgh Steelers DE, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J.
The Watts visited with Miami head coach Mario Cristobal who thanked them for their time in his own tweet. J.J. Watt began his college career as a tight end at Western Michigan. After one season with the Broncos, Watt returned to his home state to play for Wisconsin. Watt played for Wisconsin in 2009 and 2010.
T.J. also began his collegiate career as a TE before also switching to DE. J.J. Watt was not on the radar of most college football programs in the Class of 2007. According to the 247 Sports composite rankings, Watt was the 1320th ranked player, 81st strongside DE and seventh in Wisconsin in the Class of 2007.
Miami signed the 13th ranked class in 2007. That included future NFL DE Allen Bailey. Watt of course went on to become a star at Wisconsin and in the NFL. Watt earned the Ronnie Lott Trophy as the IMPACT player in college football in 2010. The Houston Texans choose Watt 11th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
It’s no secret, I grew up loving the Canes.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 7, 2022
I had orange & green bedsheets, a “U” Flag above my bed and Miami themed shoes haha.
So working out here while in town for the F1 race was very cool.
I may not have been good enough to be recruited by them, but I finally made it! pic.twitter.com/bl9Th5RY90
Watt was named the Defensive POY three times in his first five seasons in the NFL. During the 2021 offseason, Watt signed with the Arizona Cardinals after the Texans granted him a release. Watt would have been a freshman at Miami when another future NFL DPOY Calais Campbell was a senior.
HONORED TO MEET @_TJWatt @JJWatt
— Mario Cristobal (@coach_cristobal) May 7, 2022
ELITE COMPETITORS & HUMAN BEINGS!!!
Thank you for your time! Enjoy MIAMI! #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/b8nuZY9TnB
Bailey, Campbell and Watt would have been an impressive rotation of edge rushers. Jamaal Green is the only Miami pass rusher in the top 10 in program history to have played for the Hurricanes in the 21st century. Miami did recently produce first round DEs Jaelan Phillips and Greg Rousseau in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Next. 4 Miami players top 25 2023 ACC NFL Draft prospects. dark
With Cristobal as the head coach expect more visits from NFL Stars. Superbowl winning head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams participated in a coaching clinic in Coral Gables in March. The connections made with the Watts will hopefully allow Cristobal to invite them back to meet with the Miami football team.