Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel "Bookie" Watson was named a member of the All-SEC First Team by the conference's coaches after a stellar final season in maroon and white.
Watson is aiming for the consensus titles, and so far he's received College Football Network All-America honors, College Football Network First Team All-SEC honors, AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and AP All-SEC First Team honors.
A six-year veteran of the program, Watson was a 3-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class and held offers from other SEC programs, including the likes of Ole Miss. He opted to choose maroon and white over powder blue, and arrived in Starkville as a true freshman that fall.
Watson had to wait until his fourth (junior) season to be named a starter and finished second on the team in tackles with 84 to go along with 6.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.
As a senior, he again finished as one of the team's leading tacklers, and even was one of the top tacklers in the entire SEC. But he truly emerged as an elite talent this season, as he totaled a whopping 137 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks. He led the entire SEC in tackles and sacks.
Watson recently announced his declaration for the NFL Draft on November 29 with a post on X, but will forever be remembered by fans as one of the best to ever suit up for the Bulldogs.
First Team All-SEC
Offense
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, LSU
Running back: Cody Schrader, Missouri; Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
Wide receiver: Malik Nabers, LSU; Luther Burden III, Missouri
Tight End: Brock Bowers, Georgia
Offensive line: JC Latham, Alabama; Warren McClendon, Georgia; Javon Foster, Missouri; Will Campbell, LSU; Tate Ratledge, Georgia
Center: Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
All-Purpose: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Defense
Defensive line: Darius Robinson, Missouri; James Pearce Jr., Tennessee; Justin Eboigbe, Alabama; Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Linebacker: Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M; Dallas Turner, Alabama; Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Defensive back: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama; Malaki Starks, Georgia; Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri; Caleb Downs, Alabama*; Terrion Arnold, Alabama*
Special Teams
Placekicker: Will Reichard, Alabama
Punter: Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt
Return specialist; Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
Kickoff specialist: Cam Little, Arkansas
Long snapper: Hunter Rogers, South Carolina*; Kneeland Hibbett, Alabama*
More must-reads: