University of Florida All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier Tyler Watson has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Watson, a distance specialist, will be seeking potential destinations for his fifth year of eligibility, granted by the NCAA to athletes after the COVID-shortened season of 2020-21.
NOTE: A swimmer being in the transfer portal does not mean that they HAVE to transfer to another school, it only means that they have opened up communication with different schools and coaches.
In the 2022-23 season, Watson was a significant contributor for the Gators, earning an NCAA berth in the 500 freestyle, where he placed 21st (4:15.01), and the 1650 freestyle, where he placed 12th (14:46.27). At the Southeastern Conference Championship, he scored 58 points for UF, taking 3rd in the 1650 (14:38.50), 10th in the 500 (4:13.92) and 13th in the 400 IM (3:45.74).
While not one of Florida’s top scorers, Watson was nonetheless an integral part of the Gator Men’s team 2023 SEC Championship and top-10 finish nationally. His SEC Championship time in the 500 ranked sixth across the country this season, and his 500 ranked 27th, making him no doubt desirable to numerous programs in search of a boost in distance free.
Among the top five teams at NCAAs this season, only NC State had multiple men place above Watson in the mile, so he could plausibly find a home with one of the biggest names in the country. The team in that category with the most to gain from his addition would be Indiana, who failed to score a point in the event.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Watson has made substantial improvements in college. Coming out of high school primarily as a butterfly, IM and mid-free specialist, he has excelled in distance events in college, dropping nearly 12 seconds in the 500 and 46 in the mile.
SwimSwam has reached out to Watson for further comment on his future plans.
Watson’s best times:
- 500 free – 4:13.92 (2023 SEC Championships)
- 1650 free – 14:38.50 (2023 SEC Championships)
- 200 fly – 1:45.35 (2021 SEC Championships)
- 400 IM – 3:45.29 (2021 SEC Championships)
From their website the only 5th year coming back at the moment both men and women is Gravley.
If he’s done with his undergrad degree, chances are he’s looking for a university that’s a match for his master’s & swimming for his 5th year. And, it’s not unusual for 5th years to want to go somewhere else.
Well, they do have 4 distance recruits coming in:: Taylor, Dinunzio, knop and parent.
SMU lock
Enough of the silliness
Another gator enters the portal,must be up around 10 at the moment
He was a senior this year. He’s transferring as a grad student just like Mack and Bates. Florida has Linscheer, Taylor, Parent, Brown, etc. in distance events and it’s not likely that they would even have money to offer him a fifth year at this point with the class they have coming in.
Only logical destination is valpo
IU and OSU both have good distance groups (Hafnaoui and Elkamash at IU, Clark and Brinegar at OSU) that aren’t quite as crowded at the NCAA level as the d-groups at NCS and Texas. I think Watson is dating Katie Mack, who is also in the transfer portal. So it’s likely they want to end up in the same place for their 5th years.
Except NCSU went 1-2 in the mile…. Cc no respect cuz they’re a sprint team.
He arguably needs to stop looking at schools where he wouldn’t have any competition, look for better colleges like number 34 d3 ranked coast guard academy, or #37 d3 ranked merchant marine academy. he will actually have some competition there. Better yet, why not #3 d2 ranked Mckendree university (should be d1)???
lol