Cornell University Athletics

As a fifth-year senior (2019)

• Notched 45 tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack and three pass breakups in 10 starts at safety.
• Earned the start at safety in the season opener, posting one tackle against Marist.
• Credited with a team-best seven tackles against Ivy League preseason favorite Yale.
• Posted a pair of tackles and broke up a fourth-down pass vs. Georgetown.
• Registered seven tackles at Harvard.
• Notched a game-high nine tackles and broke up a pass vs. Colgate.
• Had eight stops, a pass breakup and a 16-yard sack to give Cornell the ball back for its last-minute, game-winning drive against Brown.
• Credited with four tackles, including one for a loss, against No. 12 Princeton.
• Posted five tackles in the Empire State Bowl win over Columbia.
 

As a senior (2018)

• Played in all 10 contests with seven starts.
• Ranked among the team leaders with 30 tackles (19 solo) to go along with a tackle for loss and three pass breakups.
• Made three tackles in the 2018 season opener at Delaware.
• Had a career-high four stops along with one tackle for a loss and a pass breakup against Yale.
• Earned his first career start in the victory over Sacred Heart, responding with six tackles and a pass breakup.
• Posted two stops in the win over Harvard and three more at No. 17 Colgate.
• Credited with a pair of tackles in the win over Brown.
• Posted three stops against No. 23 Dartmouth.
• Notched four tackles and a pass breakup in the season finale at Columbia.
 

As a junior (2017)

• Earned special teams action on coverage squads for his first varsity action.
• Played in three contests.
 

As a sophomore (2016)

• Watkins did not see varsity action.
 

As a freshman (2015)

• Watkins spent his freshman season on the scout team and played for the junior varsity.
 

At Valencia HS

• Watkins was a three-time first-team all-league selection at Valencia HS.
• Was named Player of the Year and captured all-county honors as a senior.
• Named Back of the Year as a sophomore.
• Played defensive back, wide receiver and running back.
• Also competed in track and field and wrestling.
 

Personal

• Jake Thomas Watkins is the son of Darryl and Nancy Watkins and has two younger brothers.
• He is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.