Southern Durham Football Star Wins Extra Effort Award

Watkins played three positions on the team -- fullback, linebacker and punter. He says he does not like to leave the field.

"I just like to go out there and play. I like to stay out there on the field," he says. "If I'm on the sideline, that does not feel right to me."

"He is a great leader and he leads by example," says football coach Anthony Barbour. "He is not one to run his mouth a lot. He just wants to get out on the field and the classroom and take care of business."

Watkins is a B student who is well-respected in the community. He says he is a role model.

"I like that role. That is a big role because I know that I had role models myself," he says. "I wanted to be like certain people who are older than I am. It just feels good to be a role model to someone younger than I am."

Principal Henry Pankey says Watkins is the type of student who he wants his children to be like when they grow up.

"He is respectful, intelligent, and articulate. Obviously, he is one of the hardest working students that we have at the school," he says. "He is an outstanding student-athlete, and he is a scholar and a gentleman. He is hard-working, committed to the school and has a lot of school spirit."

Chauncey Watkins is this week's winner of the Extra Effort Award. Tom Suiter's Extra Effort award airs Wednesdays during WRAL's 6:00 News.

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