Georgia Tech senior wide receiver Kerry Watkins has played the last three years in the shadow of legendary receiver Kelly Campbell. Despite already being in the top 10 in school history for career yardage, Watkins was not the number one target in an offense that featured Campbell, who ranks first in career yardage in school history. This year, Watkins broke out in a big way, stepping into the role of premier pass-catcher in a high-powered offense that led the ACC in passing yardage last year.
Watkins is the model of consistency, catching at least one pass in each of his last 23 games. Before this season started, he was number two to Campbell in career touchdowns already. With the injury of the Yellow Jackets' top running back, Tony Hollings, Watkins and the rest of the receivers will have to step into a larger offensive role.
"When you are looking at our running back situation, [spreading the field] lends itself more to our personnel with our receivers," Georgia Tech Coach Chan Gailey said.
The 5-foot-11, 189-pound Watkins proved he was ready for more wide-open offense with a nine-catch, 127-yard performance last week against Maryland. Still, the team is a faced with a two-game losing streak.
"We've definitely made some progress in practice this week," Watkins said. "We've been making a lot of little, mental mistakes."
Watkins began playing football in junior high school as a quarterback, and before his senior year in high school he was rated the No. three wide receiver in the nation, according to SuperPrep magazine. Watkins racked up 20 receiving touchdowns that year and also took three punt returns back for scores.
At Georgia Tech, Watkins seemed to take his game-breaking ability to the next level. Two years ago as a redshirt sophomore against North Carolina, Watkins came in on a punt block with the game tied. Watkins flew in and tackled the punter on the 12-yard line, setting up a go-ahead touchdown.
But that was only the second-best play of the season in the minds of most Georgia Tech fans. Trailing fourth-ranked Clemson by less than a touchdown with seven seconds left to play, Watkins made an acrobatic catch in the end zone after being knocked down.
The catch gave the Jackets a 31-28 victory.
Despite a 1-3 conference record, Watkins and the Yellow Jackets still feel they are in the ACC hunt.
The ACC race "is kind of a mystery," Watkins said. "It's hard to predict. We've just got to play to win each week."
This week, Tech takes on a potent Virginia team that is on a six-game win streak. Last year, Watkins had the biggest game of his career against Virginia, totaling 161 yards on nine catches, although Virginia ended up winning with a last-minute touchdown.
The series is one of the tightest in the history of the conference, and Watkins is aware of the tension between the two teams. "It's just been back and forth," he said. "It's almost like a rivalry game."
Watkins is sure to make an impact against a Virginia defense that gives up an average of 228 passing yards a game, and it is likely that his big play potential will become a factor in the newest installment of a series marked by close games.
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