Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins Ink NFL Contracts
Friday, May 8, 2009 | Football
The University of Florida football team added four additional Gators to the National Football League this week. Jason Watkins signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans, while fellow offensive lineman Phil Trautwein joined the St. Louis Rams organization as a free agent. Additionally, former Gators Carlton Medder and Keiwan Ratliff signed with the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively.
The quartet is four of the 38 Gators who have signed NFL contracts under Urban Meyer, including four first round draft picks.
With Medder, Trautwein and Watkins joining the NFL ranks, four of the six Florida offensive line graduates have signed NFL contracts in the last three years. 2007 Gator Grad Drew Miller is currently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Both Watkins and Trautwein were a part of Gator squads that won two National Championships at UF, faced the nation's toughest schedule in 2006 and 2007, the second-toughest in 2008, and compiled a 44-9 record during their time at Florida.
Watkins saw action in 53 games, including 29 starts (27 at left tackle and two at tight end) as a Gator. He started all 14 contests for the Gators at right tackle as a senior, earned AP Honorable Mention All-SEC accolades, and was invited to and attended the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. The Lakeland-native graded out a champion in eight of Florida's games in 2008.
Trautwein appeared in 46 career games with 29 starts during his tenure at Florida. He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2008 and a second-team selection in 2006. In his senior season at UF, Trautwein Garnered 2008 AP first-team All-SEC honors, Sports Illustrated Second-Team All-American recognition and was recognized by his hometown as the Brooks Irvine Memorial Football Club 2008 Division I Player of the Year and 2008 Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey Division I Player of the Year.
Ratliff joins Pittsburgh after a two-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts, where he rallied for two interceptions, one for a touchdown in 2008. Medder, whose rookie year will be with the Cardinals, played a key role on UF's offensive line, starting all 14 games at right tackle during the 2006 National Championship season and in 2007.
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