Record-setting prep star, SEC and NFL DB dead at age 54
The Anniston High School alumnus earned all-conference recognition as an Arkansas cornerback.
Olivia Bennett 
Orlando Watters, a legendary Anniston High School athlete whose high-flying track records have stood the test of time, has passed away at age 54. The City of Anniston confirmed the news on Tuesday, with S.M. Goodson Funeral Home and Crematory in Talladega noting that Watters died on Monday.
A Legacy of Athletic Dominance
Watters first etched his name into the history books at the 1990 Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Competing at Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium, he leaped 24 feet, 10 inches to win the Class 6A long jump. More than three decades later, that state meet record remains untouched across all classifications.
His dominance on the field was just as significant. During the 1989 football season, Watters hauled in a then-record 18 receptions in a single game against Cedartown, Georgia. He finished that season with 102 receptions—a state record at the time—and helped lead the Bulldogs to a perfect 15-0 record and the Class 6A state title, including a 14-catch performance in the championship victory over Murphy.
Rising Through the SEC to the NFL
Before heading to the collegiate ranks, Watters served as the MVP for Alabama in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic. He later became a trailblazer at Arkansas, helping the Razorbacks transition into the SEC. In 1993, he and Henry Ford became the first Arkansas defensive players to secure All-SEC first-team honors.
Watters was a constant threat to opposing offenses and special teams units. During Arkansas’ inaugural SEC game in 1992, he scored on a 45-yard interception return and an 87-yard punt return. He added another spectacular 71-yard punt return touchdown to help the Razorbacks upset No. 4 Tennessee later that year. In 1993, he led the nation with 185 interception-return yards, highlighted by a 99-yard pick-six against LSU.
Despite going undrafted, Watters made an immediate impact with the Seattle Seahawks in 1994, starting eight games and recording three interceptions as a rookie. His most memorable moment came against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he returned an interception 35 yards for a score. He was released by the team following the 1995 preseason. In recognition of his immense impact on the local sports scene, Watters was inducted into the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
