PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Head coach Greg Schiano has named Marquise Watson defensive line coach. Working the last two seasons at Ole Miss, the Hillside, New Jersey, native previously coached at Rutgers in 2018.
 
"Marquise is a great addition to the Rutgers Football Family," Schiano said. "Already familiar with the area, Marquise will hit the ground running and play a big role in developing our players on the defensive line. He is one of the top young coaches in college football today."
 
Most recently, Watson served as a senior analyst for Ole Miss in helping the Rebels to 10 wins and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl. The defense ranked 23^rd nationally and fourth in the SEC with 2.92 sacks per game. In 2020, Watson worked as a graduate assistant on the defensive side, being promoted to interim defensive line coach for Ole Miss' victory over Indiana in the Outback Bowl. Watson was selected to the 247Sports 30-Under-30 (Sept. 2020) indicative of the top 30 college football assistant coaches under the age of 30.
 
Watson spent 2019 as the defensive line coach/run game coordinator at his alma mater, Bryant. Defensive lineman Tomas Wright earned All-NEC First Team honors after posting 71 tackles with 16.5 for loss and nine sacks.
 
As part of the RU staff in 2018, Watson served as a defensive assistant focusing on the defensive line.
 
Prior to first joining the Scarlet Knights, Watson coached the running backs and was the team's video coordinator at Amherst. During his tenure, he coached the league leader in rushing touchdowns, including a pair of All-NESCAC selections.
 
Watson started his coaching career at Bryant as a student assistant working with the linebackers and defensive line. A first-team All-Northeast Conference selection and two-time captain, Watson started four years at Bryant, spending his first three seasons at linebacker before playing defensive line as a senior. He earned co-defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017 and closed his career as the program's all-time leader in tackles with 256.
 
Watson earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Bryant in 2017. A native of Hillside, New Jersey, he is a graduate of Paramus Catholic High School.
 
Coaching History
2022-present: Rutgers (defensive line)
2021: Ole Miss (senior analyst)
2020: Ole Miss (graduate assistant defense)
2019: Bryant (defensive line/run game coordinator)
2018: Rutgers (defensive assistant)
2017: Amherst (running backs)
 
Watson File
Hometown: Hillside, N.J.
Alma Mater: Bryant, 2017
 
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