Play-maker at safety who is one of the Big 12’s best... Is equally effective in pass coverage and run support... Possesses outstanding speed and a motor that never quits... Always seems to be around the football... Is also one of the program’s top special teams performers... National award candidtate who should once again contend for All-Big 12 honors.

2007: Finished sixth on the team with 63 total tackles... Collected 7 tackles, including 0.5 for losses, and hauled in his fourth-career interception against Auburn ... Had 5 tackles, including 0.5 for losses against Missouri State ... Collected a season-high 8 tackles against Colorado ... Led the team with 8 tackles at Iowa State , and followed that up with 7 tackles at Nebraska ... Had 5 tackles against Missouri and Fresno State .

2006: Played in first eight games at safety this season, starting four, before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season... Still managed to have enough of an impact to earn second team All-Big 12 honores from both the league’s coaches and the Kansas City Star... Retuned to the lineup in time to start in the Texas Bowl vs. Rutgers... One of 11 defenders named to ESPN’s All-Mayday Team by analyst Mark May... Finished the season with 26 tackles, including three tackles for losses and two sacks... Led the Wildcats with three interceptions, forced two fumbles and blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown... Opened the season as a reserve while continuing to recover from a hip injury suffered in 2005... Had a big game vs. Marshall in his first extensive action with two forced fumbles (one on a sack) and an interception... Had a moster game vs. Louisville, collecting a season-high nine stops (eight solo) and returning an interception 68 yards... Was nearly unstoppable against Oklahoma State, registering four tackles, including one for a loss, and blocking a punt that was returned for a touchdown... Also had a key break-up in the end zone and a game-saving interception in the end zone on the final play of the game... Suffered a hand injury that would eventually require surgery against the Cowboys but still managed to start against Nebraska and Missouri... Recovered in time for the Texas Bowl and produce another big game with seven tackles.

2005: Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades fromthe league’s coaches and The Associated Press... Named both the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player and Special Teams Player of the Year... Started all 11 games at free saftey... Finished second on the team in total tackles with 71... Far and away paced the squad in unassisted stops with 55... Credited with five pass break-ups... Also forced two fumbles and recovered a third... Collected seven or more tackles in 7-of-11 games... Had a season-high 10 stops (all solo), including a TFL, and two pass break-ups vs. Colorado... Totaled nine tackles at Oklahoma and Texas Tech... Force two fumbles at Marshall... Both fumbles occurred inside the Wildcats’ 5-yard line to snuff out potential touchdown drives... Also had three punt returns for 10 total yards.

2004: Appeared in all 11 games, primarily on special teams... Did not record any offensive stats, but did tally 11 total tackles (nine solo).

2003: Redshirted.

High School: Three-year starter at quarterback at Hays High School.. Consensus all-state pick as senior by Topeka Capital-Journal, Wichita Eagle and Kansas City Star after earning honorable mention accolades as junior... First team All-Western Athletic Conference on offense and defense for two seasons... First team All-Area by Salina Journal and Hutchinson News as junior and senior... Played in 2002 Kansas Shrine Bowl... All-around star for Indians for three seasons, serving on offense, defense, return squads and as punter... Scored TDs his senior year by rushing, passing and on kick returns... Was 63-for-133 passing for 1,073 yards and nine TDs... Gained 517 yards on 76 carries and scored six TDs... Averaged 36.0 on 26 punts... Had 11 punt returns for 134 yards and 316 yards on five kick returns... 75 tackles, four interceptions and one sack on defense... Completed 54-for-107 passes for 808 yards and eight TDs as a junior... Also had 454 yards on 64 rushes with seven TDs... Averaged 39.0 on 40 punts... Totaled five punt returns for 105 yards and five kick returns for 93 yards... Collected 26 tackles and two picks on defense... High school coach was Kent Teeter... Won state Class 5A title in pole vault as junior... Qualified for state in four events... Lettered three times in basketball and was Hays’ career assists leader... Honorable mention all-state in basketball as junior... Lettered in golf.

Personal: Marcus Watts was born April 9, 1983, in Hays, Kan... Parents are Mark and Deb Watts... A social science major.