JJ Watt to get doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine

See the best 25 games of Texans' J.J. Watt's career. See the best 25 games of Texans' J.J. Watt's career. Photo: Michael Zorn, INVL Photo: Michael Zorn, INVL Image 1 of / 47 Caption Close JJ Watt to get doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine 1 / 47 Back to Gallery

J.J. Watt, already Sports Illustrated's co-Sportsman of the Year and the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year, is about to add a scholarly salute: a Baylor College of Medicine doctorate.

The elite Houston medical school announced Thursday it will give Watt a Doctor of Humanities in Medicine degree for his Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The college awards the honorary degree at its annual commencement ceremonies to individuals who have provided exceptional support or service directly or indirectly to Baylor or to academic medicine as a whole and to the community at large.

Houston Emergency Medical Services Director Dr. David Persse is also receiving the degree.

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"In the year following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and the community's incredible response, it was most fitting to honor two community leaders who contributed in major ways, Dr. Persse and J.J. Watt," Dr. Paul Klotman, Baylor's president, said in a statement. "Our graduates and their families can take important lessons from these honorary degree recipients."

In 19 days after he announced a $200,000 goal, Watt raised more than $37 million for people affected by Harvey. His videos asking for donations went viral on social media and many celebrities and prominent NFL figures responded, including Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk and "The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon, who each gave $1 million.

Watt and Persse will receive the degrees at Baylor's commencement May 29, at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts.