4-star WR Jelani Watkins commits to LSU
2024 Houston (Tex.) Klein Forest wide receiver Jelani Watkins committed to LSU, he announced on on Friday.
The four-star prospect chose the Tigers over final group that also included Texas A&M, Arkansas and Texas.
After visiting for the Bayou Splash in July, Watkins also made a visit to Texas A&M that weekend, but it was the Tigers who ultimately reeled in Watkins.
LSU impressed him on his official visit back in June, the lone official visit he took in his recruitment. Watkins also stacked offers from Michigan, Oregon, Texas Tech and others.
“It was a good official visit, for sure,” Watkins told The Bengal Tiger. “I had gotten to see some of my people, and being around the players again was cool. It was just good vibes from everybody. It feels like home when I go back.”
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LSU Recruiting Specialist Sherman Wilson was also leading the charge for the Lone Star State prospect who grew up in the New Orleans area before moving to Texas.
“That man is blowing me up every day,” Watkins said.
Watkins planning to continue being a dual-sport athlete
When he heads off to college, Watkins plans to run track while also playing football. He’s a star in Texas in track, winning back-to-back 6A 200-meter titles, capturing a 4×100 title with Klein Forest this spring while also standing out in the 100-meter.
“I really want to be able to run track and play football,” Watkins told The Bengal Tiger. “When I was at LSU, I was with (LSU wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton) and (LSU track-and-field coach Bennie Brazzell), and we went over it all. They had made a schedule for me for both sports. They showed me how I could be with each team, so that was cool. I also got to watch the track team practice.
“I want to be able to run the 100-meter and 200-meter, and I could run the 4×4 if they needed me.”
According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Watkins is the No. 191 overall prospect in the country, No. 32 wide receiver in the nation and No. 35 prospect in Texas.
