Texas A&M football portal profiles: Tre Watson could provide prolific second receiver at TE position
With the departure of Jake Johnson, Texas A&M football needed a reliable second receiving option at tight end. Johnson's injury in 2022 meant that Donovan Green stood alone; Green's injury for 2023 meant that it was Johnson who was left to bear the load. We were never able to see them together at the height of their powers.
Luckily, it seemed like the Aggies had an inside track with a big time portal entry. Tre Watson, a TE from Fresno State, was a former teammate of Aggie QB Jaylen Henderson, so when Watson announced his portal intentions, Aggie fans thought for sure that he was bound for College Station.
Then, he committed to Washington.
All was not lost—the Aggies were still able to fill out the position via the portal. But adding Watson would have given the Ags a guy with top-notch receiving skills and plus speed.
Then, Kalen DeBoer got hired at Alabama. This changed things, and Elko and company made another run at Watson. This time, it paid off.
So what are they getting in the former Fresno State Bulldog? As I've said, Watson is a guy with a huge frame, good speed, and soft hands. At 6'5" and 245 LBs, he's tall and long. His production as a receiver has been notable as well: he was the 5th-leading receiver on the Bulldogs, averaging just under three catches per game.
His total yardage for last season was 378—over 100 yards more than the leading TE for the Aggies, despite the total receiving yardage for each team being nearly identical. He also recorded 4 touchdowns for the Bulldogs, reflecting his status as a top red zone threat.
For context, four touchdowns would have been tied for second on the Aggies last year with Jake Johnson and Evan Stewart. The only player with more was Noah Thomas, who had five—and three of those came in game one.
Adding a player of Watson's frame and skillset will aid the Aggies considerably for the next year. As I've said several times, Klein's offense utilizes the position heavily, and having reliable receiving options there opens a lot up for the system.