Kentucky offensive tackle Naasir Watkins enters transfer portal

The door to the transfer portal remains open in Lexington. The latest entry is veteran offensive tackle Naasir Watkins. According to Rivals, the offensive tackle will pursue other opportunities as a grad transfer. He is the sixth player to enter the transfer portal since the Kentucky football season ended.

Watkins had an up-and-down career at the University of Kentucky. Following Landon Young‘s preseason knee injury in 2018, Watkins earned the starting position at left tackle in the season opener against Central Michigan. E.J. Price took over the role in game two, but Watkins still played in 11 games, rotating in regularly at offensive tackle.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, Watkins was the Wildcats’ reserve swing tackle. He played on the left and right side, spelling Young and Darian Kinnard whenever they needed rest. Watkins played in all 13 games, had 12 knockdown blocks and allowed only one quarterback sack. After that, his time at Kentucky was limited.

In 2020 Watkins suffered a knee injury, limiting him exclusively to a few reps against Tennessee. He missed spring practice upon his return from injury in 2021, then was suspended for the first four games of the season. Now the Wildcats are moving on without him on the Big Blue Wall.

A 6-foot-5, 300-pound athlete, Watkins was teammates with Josh Paschal at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, Md. before the two signed with UK in 2017. A three-star recruit and top 100 offensive tackle, he picked Kentucky over offers from Baylor and Temple.