MP3 clip: Mangino on Watkins: play --> 6Sports video: Watkins ready for football season (8-26-04) 6Sports video: Watkins ready for full season of play (8-18-04) Watkins 'critical piece of puzzle' (8-18-04) Wait may end for Watkins (11-15-03) 6Sports video: Travis Watkins will try to play this season (11-6-03) Defensive tackle Watkins could return for Nebraska game (11-6-03) 6Sports video: Travis Watkins healing slowly (10-23-03) 6Sports video: Jayhawks' Watkins breaks foot in practice (8-15-03) Injuries hampering Jayhawks (8-15-03) KU's Watkins sidelined with broken right foot (8-14-03) Junior tackle Watkins likes revamped KU line (7-17-03)

David Mitchell's Take
This is Watkins' last chance to show what he can do after back-to-back injury-plagued seasons. Watkins health, and performance, will be critical for a team that lost three starters and four reserves from the defensive line.

as a junior (2003)
Was injured on the practice field a week before the season started and participated in just two games ... Was aggressive with his rehab and returned to start the Oklahoma State game ... Recorded three tackles against the Cowboys ... Totalled five tackles on the year ... One of five team captains.

as a sophomore (2002)
Named to the Big 12 all-academic first team for his performance in the classroom ... One of only nine players to start all 12 games ... Ended the season with 37 total tackles ... Also had two tackles for loss, four pass breakups and five quarterback hurries ... Tallied a career-high eight tackles against Bowling Green on Sept. 21 ... Was the second-leading tackler among the down linemen ... Tied a career-high with three unassisted tackles in three games ... Had eight multiple-tackle games.

as a redshirt freshman (2001)
Earned a starting spot at left end on the defensive front line ... Started 10 of 11 games ... Did not start against Colorado, but did play most of the game ... Credited with 38 total tackles, including three tackles for loss ... Also had a pair of quarterback sacks ... Recorded a single-game best six tackles against UCLA ... Had five total stops against Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa State.

as a freshman (2000)
Redshirted.

High School
A consensus all-state performer as a junior and senior at Derby High School ... Also a two-time all-league selection ... Credited with 60 total tackles and 13 tackles for losses his senior season ... Rated as the top lineman in the Midwest Region by MoKan Football ... Rated as the No. 12 defensive lineman in the midlands region and the 41st-best player by Super Prep Magazine ... Selected to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl game.
 
Travis Watkins' Career Stats

Defense

Year	G-GS	UT	AT	TT	Sacks	TFL	FF	FR	Int./G	PB	Blk
2002	12-12	19	18	37	0	2-8	0	0	0	2	0
2001	11-10	17	21	38	2-8	3-12	0	0	0	1	0
2000	(Redshirted)
Total	23-22	36	39	75	2-8	5-20	0	0	0	3	0

— Courtesy of kuathletics.com.