When football players at Lebanon High School play their first home game this season they will play in Danny Watkins Stadium, a new on campus venue to go with a brand new high school.
Back in November of 2011, the Wilson County Board of Education approved a recommendation to name the stadium after Watkins, who played at Lebanon High School and at UT Martin from 1975-77.
Watkins was an all-district and All-Mid-State performer at linebacker and tailback at Lebanon High School under coach David Petty in the 1972 season.
Watkins also had standout track and basketball careers and was voted Most Talented as a senior.
Watkins was one of the top linebackers at UT Martin, known then as the Pacers. He was named the 1976 Gulf South Conference Player of the Year, leading the team to an 8-3 record. He recorded 93 tackles and 48 assists for a defense which was tops in rushing and second in scoring defense. He was an honorable mention All-American.
The Lebanon native served as team captain his junior and senior seasons at UT Martin and helped the team compile a 16-6 overall record his final two seasons.
In 1977, Watkins signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders of the NFL.
In 2000, Watkins was inducted into the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame at Lebanon in 2009.
“This is a great honor for me,” Watkins said. “I am excited about the new stadium.” Published in The WCP 7.19.12