{"id":40813,"date":"2016-04-29T13:54:13","date_gmt":"2016-04-29T18:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=40813"},"modified":"2016-04-29T16:23:30","modified_gmt":"2016-04-29T21:23:30","slug":"o-brother-where-art-thou-in-nfl-with-j-j-derek-watt-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/o-brother-where-art-thou-in-nfl-with-j-j-derek-watt-hopes\/","title":{"rendered":"O brother, where art thou? In NFL with J.J., Derek Watt hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Erin Barney<\/strong><\/p>\n

WAUKESHA, Wis. \u2014 NX Level gym is one of the few places Derek Watt finds separation from big brother J.J. Watt.<\/p>\n

In a town tucked 20 miles west of Milwaukee, away from analysts and coaches comparing him to the NFL\u2019s three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Derek usually can focus on himself and his training. But between workout sets less than a week before the NFL Draft, when asked what motivates him \u2014 what makes Derek Watt a competitor \u2014 he drew the comparison to J.J. himself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just reflexive at this point.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to push and strive to be where (J.J.) is at,\u201d Watt said. \u201cHe\u2019s obviously doing pretty well, so I\u2019m just trying to push myself every day to be at that level.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"J.J.
J.J. Watt, older brother of Derek, has terrorized NFL offenses for five seasons as a defensive end for the Houston Texans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They share a surname and college, but there is no confusing the two University of Wisconsin products. Derek looks imposing at 6 feet 2 and 236 pounds, but not relative to the 6-5, 289-pound J.J. They normally play fullback and defensive end, respectively, but comparisons are inevitable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get it all the time,\u201d Derek said. \u201cPlaying in games, I\u2019m known as his brother. I don\u2019t have a first name usually.\u201d<\/p>\n

He hopes to hear his entire name before the NFL Draft ends Saturday in Chicago.<\/p>\n

Experts have him as a potential third-day selection, partly because of his position.<\/p>\n

Fullbacks don\u2019t fit into every offense, so Watt has been working with his trainer, Brad Arnett, on everything from speed to long snapping to better attract an NFL team.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe works hard, he enjoys the process, he respects the process, and he\u2019s a student of the game,\u201d Arnett said. \u201cI don\u2019t have any doubt that he\u2019s going to do great.\u201d<\/p>\n

J.J. already is. In five seasons with the Houston Texans, he holds franchise records in career sacks (74.5) and forced fumbles (15). Wisconsin doesn\u2019t build its offense around a fullback, so Derek ran just nine times for 45 yards last season, but he did
\ncatch 15 passes for 139 yards.<\/p>\n

He certainly stands out at home. His mother, Connie, said Derek is the comedian of the family. Despite how competitive as he is on the field, Connie appreciates the way he makes time to greet kids on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

\"NFL
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