Lancaster’s Markees Watts was primed for a huge senior season. Then the first play happened

Markees Watts couldn’t wait for his senior season of high school football at Lancaster.

The two-time reigning Region 3-3A defensive player of the year amassed 42 tackles-for-loss and 27 sacks combined the last two seasons, earning Tri-County Coaches Association defensive player of the year and first team All-Area honors last fall. York’s Bobby Carroll is on the Shrine Bowl coaching staff and said that, without knowing for sure, Watts “had a great chance” of making South Carolina’s squad, which would make him the first Bruin to play in the all-star game since 2008.

Watts is a Japanese motorcycle when rushing the opposing quarterback, with an innate ability to weave through noise and isolate and devour ball-carriers. Yes sir, Watts and his coach, Bobby Collins, were ready to unleash the senior on opposing offenses this fall from an outside linebacker position that would allow him to use his speed from a standing start.

And then it all changed on Watts’ first play of the season.

Buckled

Watts has 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash so it wasn’t surprising that he was the first member of his kickoff coverage unit down the field against Indian Land on Aug. 18.

Lancaster played its 2017 season opener at Buford High School because renovations at Lancaster’s Memorial Stadium weren’t complete. Everything was new that night: the season, Watts’ pair of Nike football cleats, Buford’s FieldTurf playing surface.

Watts said he was more excited than usual for the game. He was approaching crunch time in his college football recruitment with a clear three - Wofford, Appalachian State and Charlotte - emerging. If he played at his level, his coach thought he would garner statewide attention.

Watts let that excitement rip loose on the first play, but after side-stepping one blocker, he reached the 25-yard line and another blocker. And buckled.

“I saw him go down,” Collins said. “It happened 10 yards in front of me. And when no contact is involved you get nervous because you think ACL.”

The same thing darted through Watts’ mind as he lay on the turf, stunned.

“I was scared and mad,” he said Thursday while watching his team practice. “I was scared, I hoped this wasn’t gonna be the end of the season. And I was mad, because this might be the end of it.”

A freak accident

Athletic trainer Sarah Rodman tried talking to him but he didn’t really hear her. He tried to walk to the sideline on his own but his left leg couldn’t hold him up. It had planted in the ground - gripping new cleats biting into sticky new turf - and his knee had moved right, while his foot stayed to the left. He described the feeling of separation in his knee. “That freaked me out.”

Watts hobbled off the field with the help of Collins and offensive lineman Jalen Tatah. He tried to run off the injury on the sideline but his knee wouldn’t support any weight. The sinewy 6-foot-2, 215-pound teenager grappled with the unfamiliar sensation of a powerful and dynamic leg gone limp.

“It was a freak accident. First play of the game, your senior year… it sucks,” said Collins. “I’ve lost plenty of sleep, for him, because I haven’t coached a player that worked that hard, on and off the field. It’s been tough on everybody on the team.”

Watts played special teams since ninth grade. It was a valuable message to Collins’ team that its star player wasn’t too good to mix it up on kickoff returns.

“Tough loss. You lose your leader,” Collins said. “Markees wasn’t the most vocal guy so he led by making plays. So when it’s 3rd-and-long, I’m excited as much as he is because I know somebody’s got to pass the football.”

That’s when Watts would cut his motorcycle engine loose. Knowing he’d had that feeling for the last time as a Bruin welled tears in his eyes.

Gratitude

A doctor in Charlotte told Watts several days later that he had torn his ACL and his meniscus. He’ll be sidelined around nine months.

Surgery was postponed until after Watts takes official recruiting visits in September to Wofford (Sept. 2), Appalachian State and Charlotte. It wouldn’t be the best look to show up at an official visit on crutches or in a wheelchair.

Years ago, an ACL injury was a career-ender, but Watts is more fortunate. And the injury appears to have whittled down the field of schools chasing him, though his three favorites all still plan to honor their scholarship offers.

Collins said Watts’ knee should be better than ever after the surgery. And Collins should know. He tore his ACL as a junior offensive lineman at South Carolina State, but bounced back to earn All-American honors as a senior.

“Markees at minimum, wherever he goes to college, he’s gonna be a three-year starter and a two-year All-American,” said Collins. “He’s got that kind of ability.”

It was the wet, drippy kind of day one almost expects when driving to an interview about a season-ending injury. Gloomy. It didn’t feel right to see Watts standing on a sidewalk in the clothes he wore to school while his team practiced.

Watts said he’s not over the disappointment, but he’s gotten through the initial shock. His girlfriend, Mariah, plied him with pertinent Bible verses and he cited his faith for helping him deal with the array of questions and doubts the injury sparked. Watts has a 3.3 GPA and an understanding of the long-term benefits that accompany college ball and a free education. He also knows he’s got more football to play.

“I lost my senior year of high school ball but it brings out the gratitude of football,” he said. “It makes you feel good to play football and be blessed to have another opportunity.”

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Lancaster’s Markees Watts was primed for a huge senior season. Then the first play happened."