Chris Watts is trading in his NFL credentials for a shot in the college game. The Texas Longhorns are expected to bring on the longtime NFL scout in a player personnel role, according to a report from CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. It's a move that signals Texas is doubling down on its NFL-style support staff model—a trend that's quickly becoming the standard in college football.

Watts brings over two decades of scouting experience to Austin. A Langston University alum, he got his start in the NFL as an intern with the New York Giants back in 2005. That internship turned into a 15-year run as a full-time scout for the Giants, where he learned the ropes of evaluating talent at the highest level. After that, he took a brief detour to work as a regional scout for the Reese's Senior Bowl in 2021, followed by a stint as a general manager in the USFL. But the NFL called him back in 2022, and Watts spent the last four years as a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers before parting ways in March.

Now, he'll bring that wealth of experience to head coach Steve Sarkisian and general manager Brandon Harris. Watts will be tasked with evaluating high school prospects and transfer portal talent—a critical role in today's college football landscape. For a program like Texas, which is chasing championships and reloading through the portal, adding a scout with an NFL pedigree could be a game-changer. Expect Watts to help the Longhorns sharpen their talent evaluation as they continue to build a roster that can compete with the best in the country.