In the most recent census, Maplesville had a population of 637. But Nathaniel Watson never figured the size of his Chilton County hometown and its high school made a difference on the football field.

“We never looked at all that stuff, we just went out there and played,” Watson said on Tuesday after his first day of practice for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. “At the end of the day, there’s only 11 on the field for both teams.”

But Watson figures the small-town life had a part in getting him to the Senior Bowl after playing at Mississippi State.

“It’s just my work ethic,” Watson said. “I’m a hard-working man. I keep my head down. I look to take advantage of all the opportunities that are given to me, so I just keep working.”

At Maplesville, Watson played on three AHSAA Class 1A championship teams. Maplesville’s 2014 and 2016 teams went undefeated, with the former outscoring its 14 opponents 690-108 and the latter outscoring its 14 opponents 683-101.

Watson was a 1,000-yard receiver and earned All-State honors as a wide receiver for the 2016 team. Watson repeated as an all-state choice in 2017 – this time in the athlete slot – but Sweet Water upended the Red Devils 26-21 in the third round of the state playoffs to end Maplesville’s 34-game winning streak.

Between Maplesville and the Senior Bowl, Watson spent six seasons at Mississippi State. Now a linebacker, Watson finished second in the SEC with 114 tackles in 2022. He upped that total to 137 in 2023 and led the conference. He also tied for the SEC lead with 10 sacks this season.

“Growing up in Maplesville, we’re right down the road, a couple of hours or so away from Mobile,” Watson said, “and watching this game, I know all the people back at home in Maplesville, they wish they could see me play in this game, most definitely. Probably some of them are going to drive down for the game. I know a couple of them have contacted me about the game, so it’s, I’d say, a family. It’s just like a family down there, just like when I went to Starkville. A couple of Mississippi State fans are coming to watch me and my D-lineman (Jaden Crumedy) play, so it’s just a family environment. That’s really what helped me get here.”

Watson will play for the American team in Saturday’s all-star game.

Watson said his goal for Senior Bowl Week was to show NFL decision-makers “that they should pick me up first. I think I’m the top linebacker in the draft. I’m a three-way ballplayer – pass rushing, covering and stopping the run. I know I had a good run-through earlier in the teams.”

The 75th Reese’s Senior Bowl is scheduled to kick off at noon CST Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. Tickets for the contest can be purchased online.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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