By Marty Gordon
Hokie quarterback signee William Watson III has been named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the State of Massachusetts.
Watson led Springfield Central High School to the Division One State Championship game this past fall as a senior, passing for 2,338 yards and accounting for 39 total touchdowns. For his high school career, Watson threw for 5,169 yards and 62 touchdowns. He was also named to the 2023 U.S. Army All-American Bowl roster.
Watson maintained a 3.62 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally in the community by being a face of Springfield’s ‘Vax The Field’ in an effort to help city residents get their COVID-19 vaccination and also with the Springfield’s Youth Football program as a coach.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states for the high school sports of football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field and then awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.