By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Nathaniel Watson has been offered a scholarship to Mississippi State and is being watched by Auburn for his promising football performance at Maplesville High School.

“All those things are pending on academics,” said Coach Brent Hubbert. “He’s done a good job. Hopefully he’ll stay grounded and focused on those things … Football won’t be around forever, but his education will.”

Hubbert said that Watson is doing a good job on and off the field, and that he has seen “Bookie” grow up through the Maplesville football program, from elementary school to now.

Watson said he has been playing football since he was ten. He is now a junior playing wide receiver at Maplesville High School. He recently went to a football camp at Auburn, where he said he learned new defensive techniques. The receiver said Mississippi State and Auburn were both considering him for defensive positions at safety or outside linebacker.

When asked how he felt about swapping to a defensive role, Watson replied, “At first, I didn’t want to do it … but I’ll just take my chances with it. Defense or offense, it don’t matter. I just want to play. I want to be starting.”

Hubbert said that Watson has done a good job staying levelheaded in light of all the attention from recruiters and press.

“That’s a lot of publicity and a lot of stuff thrown at a 15 year old kid,” said Hubbert. “He’s done a good job.”

Watson and Hubbert both said they feel good about the upcoming year.

“There’s going to be some trying times, but we think we’ve got a couple good leaders,” said Hubbert. “If we can get better every week and be in the playoffs in week 11, then we feel good.”