Anthony Watkins

Photo by: Morgan Tencza

Photo by: George Walker/DFWsportsonline

Oct 23, 2020; Tampa Bay, Florida, USA; during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay

Photo by: Reinhold Matay

October 3, 2020 - Orlando, FL, U.S: \ during 1st half NCAA football game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the UCF Knights at the Bounce House in Orlando, Fl. Romeo T Guzman

Photo by: Romeo T Guzman for Tulsa Athletics

Position:
Running Back
Height:
5-11
Weight:
210
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Fort Worth, Texas
High School:
South Hills HS / Missouri
Prev School:
Missouri

CAREER NOTES: A four-year letterwinner … Transferred from Missouri prior to the 2020 season … Has played in 45 career games … Has six career 100-yard rushing games, including three in 2023 … Has a career total of 383 attempts over 1,965 yards … Has 12 career total touchdowns.

2024: Played in 11 games this season during his final season at TU.

Started six out of the 11 games.
Led the team in carries (87), rushing yards (402) and rushing touchdowns (4).
Rushed for a season-best 101 yards at South Florida on Nov. 23, which included a 77-yard run.
Had 73 receiving yards at Temple on Oct. 19, which was a season high.
Recorded 13 receptions for 142 yards.
Scored four touchdowns against Northwestern St, at Arkansas St, at La. Tech, and at South Florida.
Recorded one unassisted tackle

2023: Played in 12 games and had nine starts.

Was on the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List.
Named third-team All-AAC.
Named to Phil Steele's All-AAC third team.
Had a team-leading 889 yards for a 4.5 average with four touchdowns.
Rushed for 106 yards for a 5.9 average at ECU.
Had 115 yards and one TD v. North Texas.
Tallied 77 carries for a 5.1 average against the nation's 4th best run defense, Tulane.
Had a career-high 146 yards with one TD against Charlotte.
Totaled 77 yards and one TD vs. Temple.
Had 91 yards and one TD in a starting assignment at NIU.
Made his first career start vs. #19 Oklahoma.
Rushed for 69 yards on nine carries for a 7.7 average in the opener vs. UAPB after sitting out the 2022 campaign.

2022: Sat out the 2022 season.

2021: Played in all 13 games.

Rushed for 634 rushing yards, four touchdowns and a 7.4 average on 86 carries.
Had 15 kickoff returns for 311 yards, a 20.7 average and one TD.
Had two 100-yard rushing games.
Had five runs of 25 yards or more, including two of 75 yards or more.
Came into the Arkansas State game with 60 rushing yards on the season and ended that game with 115 yards and one TD on seven carries for his first career 100+ rushing game.
Had a career-long 75-yard TD run in that game.
Had his second 100+ rushing game with 105 yards on 15 carries against No. 2-ranked Cincinnati.
Rushed for 81 yards on 5 carries against Navy, including a career-long of 78 yards.
Had Tulsa's first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2012 when he had a 97-yard return in the Navy contest.
Had 68 yards for a 7.6 average against Memphis, while adding a tackle-breaking 44-yard TD run.
Rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 15 yards against Old Dominion in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

2020: Played in eight games, mostly on special teams.

Totaled 21 rushing yards and totaled 30 kickoff return yards on two returns.
Rushed for a season-best 18 yards on four carries at South Florida.

PRIOR TO TULSA: Spent the 2019 season at Missouri, where he received a redshirt season.

Saw action in one game, coming against Southeast Missouri State when he carried the ball six times for 19 yards.

HIGH SCHOOL

Played his prep career at South Hills High School, garnering all-state honors at multiple positions.
Tabbed as a four-star recruit and the nation’s No. 34 prospect at running back according to ESPN.
Was a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com and 247Sports.
Rushed for 2,601 yards on just 295 carries over 10 games for an 8.8 average per carry and 260.1 yards per game his senior season.
Scored 34 rushing touchdowns and had nine games with more than 100 yards.
Added five catches for 140 yards and a score.
Earned all-state mention on both offense and defense.
Was the Class 7-5A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior.
Rushed for 1,600 yards and 28 touchdowns while playing quarterback, corner and safety while also returning kicks his junior campaign.
Was an honorable mention all-state pick as a junior.
Received Third-Team Utility Defense by the Texas Sports Writers Association.
Was a first-team all-star selection by the Star-Telegram.
Finished his high school career with more than 4,000 career rushing yards and averaged 9.2 yards per carry with 61 career touchdowns.
Competed in track & field and basketball.
Rated as the No. 5 running back prospect in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by the Star-Telegram.