Marquise Watson is in his third season with Rutgers football and second as the defensive line coach. Having mentored three NFL players (Sam Williams, Ryder Anderson, Willington Previlon), the Hillside, New Jersey, native previously coached at Ole Miss and worked on the RU staff in 2018. He was named to the
247Sports 30Under30 list for the second time in 2022.
• In 2022, Watson helped the defense improve by allowing 46.7 less yards per game compared to 2021, 28.1 less passing yards and 18.6 less rushing yards. The Scarlet Knights posted their best mark in total defense (349.8) in 10 years. The defense finished fifth nationally in quarterback hits.
• Mentored Aaron Lewis, who earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors.
• A member of the 2022
247Sports 30Under30 list, which identifies 30 rising stars in the coaching and personnel space under the age of 30.
• As part of the RU staff in 2018, served as a defensive assistant focusing on the defensive line. That included working with Willington Previlon, who signed with the Green Bay Packers.
• Watson served as a senior analyst for Ole Miss in helping the Rebels to 10 wins and an appearance in the 2022 Sugar Bowl. The defense ranked 23rd nationally and fourth in the SEC with 2.92 sacks per game.
• In 2020, worked as a graduate assistant on the defensive side, being promoted to interim defensive line coach for the victory over Indiana in the Outback Bowl.
• Selected to the
247Sports 30-Under-30 for the first time in 2020.
• Coached All-American, First Team All-SEC pick and second-round draft selection of the Dallas Cowboys Sam Williams and New York Giants signee Ryder Anderson along the defensive line.
• 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.
• Coached the running backs and was the team’s video coordinator at Amherst in 2017. During his tenure, coached the league leader in rushing touchdowns, including a pair of All-NESCAC selections.
• 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 the team’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016 and closed his career as the program’s all-time leader in tackles with 256.
• A three-year varsity letterwinner and a three-year starter at Paramus Catholic, helping the Paladins to three-straight state titles. Named first team all-state each of the three years and claimed the MVP of the North-South game as a senior.
Hometown: Hillside, N.J.
Alma Mater: Bryant, 2017
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)
