Defensive line, Gardner-Webb, 2025–26
Zalen Watkins
- Number
- No. 8
- Height
- 6′3″
- Weight
- 290 lb
- Class (2026)
- Freshman
Zalen Watkins plays defensive line for Gardner-Webb. Last time out, at UT Martin: 1 tackles.
2026 so far
24 tackles, 1 sack
Last game: 1 tackles at UT Martin, L 6–17
Next game: at Southeast Missouri State, Oct 31
Filled bars: wins; outlined: losses.
Defense
| Season | Team | Tkl | Solo | TFL | Sacks | PD | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Gardner-Webb | 24 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.
On the roster
| Season | Team | No. | Pos | Class | Ht | Wt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gardner-Webb | 8 | DL | RS | ||
| 2026 | Gardner-Webb | 8 | DL | Fr. | 6′3″ | 290 |
As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.
Game by game
2026 Gardner-Webb 8 games, 24 tackles, 1 sack
| Date | Opponent | Result | Tkl | Solo | TFL | Sacks | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27 | at Austin Peay | L 17–35 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 5 | at Wofford | L 13–17 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 12 | at Liberty | L 23–24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 19 | vs. North Carolina Central | W 44–20 | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 26 | at Marshall | L 35–36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 3 | at Charleston Southern | W 12–10 | 6 | 2 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Oct 10 | vs. Eastern Illinois | L 7–21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17 | at UT Martin | L 6–17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.
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