South Carolina Football’s GOAT Series: Top-15 greatest safeties of all-time

South Carolina Football’s No. 13 Safety of All-Time:
Tony Watkins

Tony Watkins (1990-1994) was mostly recruited as a running back out of high school, but the South Carolina coaching staff saw more in him as a defensive back. The move to defense paid off as Watkins became one of the hardest hitters in Gamecock history. After missing 1990 with an injury, Watkins started as a redshirt freshman in 1991 and kept his job for four seasons.

Watkins had a penchant for making big plays, and the hard-hitting safety averaged almost 90 tackles per season during his four years as the starter, including leading the team in stops during his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. He made two All-SEC teams in his career before spending a few seasons in NFL Europe.