[2] According to George Plimpton's best-selling book "Paper Lion" Watkins, graduated from Iowa State University in 1961, was one of the best running backs in Cyclone history.
A member of the famed 1959 "Dirty Thirty" team, Watkins ranked second in the nation in rushing that season and earned All-America honors the following year in 1960.
He played seven seasons in the NFL, leading the league in punt return yardage as a Lion in 1963 and 1964.
[3] In a game against the 49ers in 1963, Watkins returned a punt for 90 yards, setting a team record that would remain unbroken until Desmond Howard returned one for 95 yards in a 2000 game against the New Orleans Saints.
Watkins played in just one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968, but did not record a stat.