Jordan Watkins has seen Ole Miss ‘come to life’ in his three seasons
Player attachment, in many ways, has been lost in college football’s transfer-portal era. But not at Ole Miss.
Wide receiver Jordan Watkins will close the book on three full Ole Miss seasons in the Gator Bowl. The No. 14 Rebels (9-3, 5-3 SEC) take on Duke (9-3, 5-3 ACC) on January 2, 2025. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
His time as a Rebel will match such program legends as AJ Brown and Laquan Treadwell. HIs production isn’t far off, either.
“It’s been awesome just being able to really set the standard here and the tradition here and give the fans a reason to be excited for the next season,” Watkins said after practice on Friday. “I just see how far the program’s come the last three years. Been awesome to come out on the brighter side of it.
“When I first got here, (Ole Miss head coach Lane) Kiffin told me we’re taking this program in a different direction. It really has. It’s been fun to see it come to life.”
RELATED: For senior wideout Jordan Watkins, Ole Miss has been ‘everything I hoped it would be’
A win over Duke would secure for the Rebels their third 10-win season in Kiffin’s five at Ole Miss.
Watkins, a former transfer from Louisville, would have a been a member of all three of them.
Watkins has produced nearly 2,000 receiving yards over five college seasons. He’s scored 12 touchdowns. Seven came this season. Watkins set new Ole Miss records for single-game receiving yards (254) and touchdowns (5) in a 63-31 win at Arkansas last month.
“It’s really starting to kick in a little bit,” Watkins said of his career nearing its end. “Just really getting ready for (the NFL Draft process). Talking to agents and all this other stuff and making plans for after the bowl game. It’s a quick turnaround. I really won’t have too much time to really let it settle after the game is done.
“These last couple of weeks have been good. Just really taking it all in and spending a lot of time with the family and just making sure I spend as much time with them as possible and my teammates. It’s the last time I’ll be able to step out on the field with them.”
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Watkins has had a lot on his plate since the regular season ended.
He has a newborn at home, first and foremost. But he’s had finals and Gator Bowl practices, too. All the while he’s been laying out his first post-Ole Miss steps.
Watkins is in the process of lining up a training facility for the draft, as well as hiring an agent.
“It’s been a lot, man,” Watkins said.
But he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Most every major Ole Miss contributor this season opted to play in the Gator Bowl. Linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul is preparing for the draft. Safety Jadon Canady is in the transfer portal. Right tackle Micah Pettus was dismissed and is evaluating next-season options elsewhere.
But Watkins is in. Same for third-year star quarterback Jaxson Dart and such accomplished, next-level veterans as tight end Caden Prieskorn and defensive linemen Walter Nolen, Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues.
“It wasn’t a surprise at all. Everybody on this team is just so bought-in on what the coaches and Kiffin’s been able to do these last couple years,” Watkins said.
“Really built the brotherhood here and the foundation for this team and the future of this program.”
