Hall of Fame Inductees
Watkins, Bobby
Bobby Watkins
- Induction:
- 2011
Football 1952-54
Bobby Watkins, a native of New Bedford, Mass., led the Scarlet and Gray in scoring in both the 1953 and 1954 campaigns. Watkins played a major role in helping Ohio State claim the 1954 national championship – the second national crown in program history. During the 1954 season, the Buckeyes went a perfect 10-0 highlighted by a 20-7 victory over Southern California in a rainy, mud-soaked 1955 Rose Bowl game. Watkins rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries, while posting three receptions for 43 yards with a touchdown vs. the Trojans. With the help of Watkins, the Scarlet and Gray were voted No.1 in the final Associated Press poll in 1954 after outscoring their opponents, 289-75. Entering the final regular season game of the 1954 season, Watkins led the Buckeyes with 596 yards and eight touchdowns in 104 attempts. One of Woody Hayes’ first recruits and one of the first African-Americans to play football for Ohio State, Watkins, an all-state performer in high school, rushed for 1,724 yards between 1952-1954. In 1953, the Buckeye back led the team with 875 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Following his three seasons, Watkins was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears in 1955, playing in four seasons before a knee injury ended his career.After his playing career, Watkins, who earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, used his education to become the vice president of marketing and sales for John E. Seagram and Sons. In 2000, Watkins moved backed to his hometown area after he retired. Since then, the former Buckeye has been involved with UMass Dartmouth through various volunteer opportunities, including chair of the UMass Dartmouth Blue Ribbon Commission on Athletics and recently as a member of the Board of Directors for the UMass Dartmouth Foundation. In 2007, he established the Bobby and Rillis Watkins Scholarship Fund, which helps support students who participated in high school football receive an education at UMass Dartmouth.
Bobby Watkins, a native of New Bedford, Mass., led the Scarlet and Gray in scoring in both the 1953 and 1954 campaigns. Watkins played a major role in helping Ohio State claim the 1954 national championship – the second national crown in program history. During the 1954 season, the Buckeyes went a perfect 10-0 highlighted by a 20-7 victory over Southern California in a rainy, mud-soaked 1955 Rose Bowl game. Watkins rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries, while posting three receptions for 43 yards with a touchdown vs. the Trojans. With the help of Watkins, the Scarlet and Gray were voted No.1 in the final Associated Press poll in 1954 after outscoring their opponents, 289-75. Entering the final regular season game of the 1954 season, Watkins led the Buckeyes with 596 yards and eight touchdowns in 104 attempts. One of Woody Hayes’ first recruits and one of the first African-Americans to play football for Ohio State, Watkins, an all-state performer in high school, rushed for 1,724 yards between 1952-1954. In 1953, the Buckeye back led the team with 875 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Following his three seasons, Watkins was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears in 1955, playing in four seasons before a knee injury ended his career.After his playing career, Watkins, who earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, used his education to become the vice president of marketing and sales for John E. Seagram and Sons. In 2000, Watkins moved backed to his hometown area after he retired. Since then, the former Buckeye has been involved with UMass Dartmouth through various volunteer opportunities, including chair of the UMass Dartmouth Blue Ribbon Commission on Athletics and recently as a member of the Board of Directors for the UMass Dartmouth Foundation. In 2007, he established the Bobby and Rillis Watkins Scholarship Fund, which helps support students who participated in high school football receive an education at UMass Dartmouth.
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