QA: Pat Watkins

Pat Watkins is one of several Florida State defenders that are coming into their own this season. Last year as a backup to B.J. Ward, coaches and fans got a glimpse at his enormous potential. Coming off the bench the 6-foot-4 safety finished fifth on the team in total tackles (62), tied for the team lead in interceptions (3), and broke up eight passes. Through two games so far Watkins is tied for fourth on the team in total tackles (8) and recorded his first interception last weekend against UAB.

Warchant.com caught up with FSU's starting free safety for this exclusive interview:

The first two teams you played didn't really try to test the secondary much, but Clemson definitely will. As a free safety do you look forward to games when the opponent wants to air it out?

Clemson always has a talented corps of receivers and this will be a test to see where the secondary is at. This is going to be our first true test. We went down to Miami and played pretty good but this time we know (Charlie) Whitehurst will throw the ball all over the place and doesn't really have one primary receiver. He will throw the ball and we will do our best to defend it.

Are you guys a little more fired up for this game after what happened last year at Clemson?

Yea, anytime we take a loss to a team there's inspiration to go out there and avenge our loss. We took a hard one at Clemson and they might have knocked us out of the national (championship race). I feel like it's time for revenge. We are just going to go out there, play as hard as we can and do the rest on the field.

With your height, speed and agility you are a guy that the NFL will be looking at after this season. Has it crossed your mind at all that if you have a great season to leave early?

To be honest with you I'm trying to wait. There is a little talk here and there, and some whispers about me leaving early, but I can't predict the way my season is going come out. I'm going to play and then make a decision at the end of the season. It's like 90 or 80-20 that I'm staying because if I'm here three years one more year isn't going to kill me.

When it comes time to make that decision who will you discuss that with?

I would definitely turn to my mom, my step father and my dad. They have been there for most of my life and haven't led me wrong yet. They told me to come to State and said what I need to do to get to college. I'll listen to them.

Is there anybody in the NFL that you know that you would talk to about your decision?

I know a few people but the person I talk to the most in the NFL is probably Boo Williams at New Orleans, a tight end. I talk to him more than I talk to anybody but I haven't spoken to him recently.

Are you still keeping up with your old Lincoln teammate Ryan Gilliam who is at Oregon

I keep up with Bird. I talk to him every so often and we have good conversations. He's doing good. He told me he broke a school record in the 40. I heard he has gotten a lot faster. I don't want to race him any more, and I told him. We can jump or do anything else. He seems to be doing pretty well up there. He hasn't called and complained about anything. He just talks about the good things.

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