LSU signs speedy Texas 4-star WR Jelani Watkins
LSU has signed one of the fastest wide receivers in America with the addition of Texas 4-star and Louisiana native Jelani Watkins.
The four-star prospect chose the Tigers over a 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 him in.
LSU impressed Watkins 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.
He is set to play football and run track in Baton Rouge.
LSU lands a two-sport athlete in Watkins
When he heads off to LSU, 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.”
Watkins repeated as the state champion in the UIL Class 6A 200-meter dash with a 20.54. Watkins had previously posted a personal record 20.39 at the District 15/16-6A area meet.
The LSU commitment also ran anchor on Klein Forest’s 4×100 relay team, which also won a Texas 6A state title with a head-turning 40.01.
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Watkins also has a number of impressive 100-meter dash times, including a personal record of 10.27.
Next stop: Baton Rouge
According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Watkins is the No. 207 overall prospect in the country, No. 35 wide receiver in the nation and No. 37 prospect in Texas.
“It’s been good,” he said. “I know I made a good decision because basically, I’m going to be around the environment I grew up around. I really be around my people again.”
Recruiting specialist Sherman Wilson and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton were key figures in his commitment to the Tigers.
“It’s good. I talk to Sherm almost every day,” Watkins said. “Coach Hankton hits me up every once in a while and we chop it up when he’s not busy.”
When it comes to the LSU offense, the 5-10, 160-pound prospect liked what he saw from the 2023 Tigers.
“I like what I’ve been seeing,” he said. “They spread the ball around and that’s what I like to see.”
