The Buffalo Bandits today announced the team has signed forward Christian Watts and transition player Austin Blumbergs to two-year contracts, pending league approval.

Watts (6’4”, 193 lbs.) finished his collegiate career with 98 points (31+81) in 56 games at Siena College. Watts, who received MAAC All-Second Team honors in 2023, ranked second on the Saints in both goals (34) and points (42) as a graduate student. The East Aurora, New York native was selected to compete in the USILA Senior All-Star Game in 2023. Watts has played for the Rapids in the UCBLL for two seasons and led the UCBLL in points both seasons. The forward posted 52 points (23+29) in 2022 and followed with 63 points (40+23) in 2023. Watts finished his UCBLL career with a league-record 115 points (63+52). He was chosen in the fifth round (82nd overall) of the 2022 NLL Entry Draft by Buffalo.

Blumbergs (6’2”, 200 lbs.) recorded 66 points (54+12) and 47 loose-ball recoveries during his five-year career at St. Bonaventure. Blumbergs finished his collegiate career ranking third all-time in points (66), fourth all-time in goals (54), and second all-time in games played (57) in Bonnies program history. The Penn Yan, New York native received MAAC All-Conference Second Team honors in 2022, MAAC All-Conference First Team honors in 2021 and MAAC All-Rookie Team honors in 2019. Blumbergs has played two seasons in the Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (UCBLL), which is co-sponsored by the Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks. As a transition player, he finished his UCBLL career with 49 points (24+25) and led the Buffaloes in goals and points in 2023. Blumbergs was selected by the Bandits in the fifth round (88th overall) of the 2022 NLL Entry Draft.