When it comes to football talent, Sacramento State has yet to disappoint the University of Washington, having provided the Huskies with a pair of part-time defensive starters in recent years. With DeSean Watts, the UW will see if it can get even more out of this player on the same side of the ball.
On Tuesday, DeSean Watts announced his commitment to Washington through the transfer portal, giving Jedd Fisch another important piece as he continues to reshape the roster. Watts, a 6 foot 2, 318 pound defensive tackle from Fresno, California, earned first team All Big Sky honors and becomes the third player to join the Huskies over a two day stretch.
Watts follows former Sam Houston offensive tackle Kolt Dieterich and ex San Diego State punter Hunter Green to Montlake, with Washington expected to remain active in the portal over the next week and beyond.
The addition of Watts directly addresses Washington’s most pressing roster concern. The Huskies entered the offseason thin at defensive tackle after losing four interior linemen to graduation or transfer. Watts, who started 11 games for a 7 and 5 Sacramento State team last season, helps stabilize the middle of the defensive front and could play a meaningful role right away.
During his lone season with the Hornets, Watts recorded 36 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 4 quarterback pressures. Before arriving at Sacramento State, he spent two years at Fresno City College, redshirting one season and then playing a full year in 2024. He has at least two seasons of eligibility remaining, with the possibility of additional time if the NCAA grants waivers related to junior college participation.
Watts joins Washington after following a familiar path taken by former Hornets safety Cam Broussard and edge rusher DeShawn Lynch. Broussard played one season with the Huskies in 2024 and started seven games, while Lynch spent two years in the program, starting four games in 2024 and appearing in 11 games this past fall as a reserve.
On the field, Watts is a compact interior defender known for his quickness and ability to win with leverage. Pro Football Focus ranked him fourth nationally among FCS interior defensive linemen against the run, using its proprietary grading system. His best performances included seven tackles against Nevada and six tackles in a win over Northern Colorado.
Watts also shared a Sacramento State locker room with former UW running back Sam Adams II. After visiting Washington this past weekend, he needed just 48 hours to decide that Montlake would be his next destination.