Ole Miss' Jordan Watkins plans to be the 'Swiss Army Knife' in a talented receivers room

There might not be a more accurate example of life being stranger than fiction than looking back at Ole Miss receiver Jordan Watkins’ last 12 months.

Last August he was on the practice field with Louisville and in the midst of training camp and preparing to face Ole Miss at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This August Watkins is now suited up with Ole Miss and training with some of those same players he was tasked to beat last September.

The transfer portal is a strange and funny concept but this is just one story of how wacky college football is now.

“I was just thinking about that the other day, actually,” said Watkins, said Watkins, an NIL partner of the Ole Miss Spirit sponsored by Leblanc CPA and Bluff City Advisory.

“I remember getting ready for Ole Miss and looking at the scouting report and looking at their defense a little bit and kind of what they do defensively. Now I go against them everyday and I play for Ole Miss. It’s kind of just so surreal you just kind of got to take a step back and take it all in.”

Since Watkins arrived in Oxford back in January he has gotten used to his new home of Oxford.

Having adjusted to that unique strangeness Watkins is now focused on being a key playmaker for Ole Miss.

Watkins was one of the first players to join Ole Miss’ impressive transfer class following the 2021 season. The expectation of him being a top target for whoever is the next starting quarterback was an instant one.

Since then Ole Miss has continued to stockpile its receivers room and now it is a very crowded group with a lot of talent.

Throughout fall camp Watkins has been projected by the Ole Miss Spirit to be one of the starting receivers, whether it be out wide or in the slot.

Moving inside to out or vice versa is not an issue to Watkins. The ability to be versatile is something he considers as his strong suit.

“Coming out of high school I kind of think of myself as a Swiss Army Knife a little bit,” Watkins said. “Kind of somebody who can do everything. Play outside, play slot. I’ve been kind of everywhere (at practice) a little bit. I think that’s what sets me a part from other people is I can just play anywhere you need me to. If you need me to go to the backfield I’ll go play running back. If you need me to go play tight end I’ll go play tight end.”

Throughout fall camp the receivers room is slowly showing there is more depth than initially anticipated.

The group had Watkins, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Knox, JJ Henry, Malik Heath and Jaylon Robinson. But throughout the four weeks of training camp some other players are pushing their way to the front of the crowd.

Walk-on Dayton Wade is one of those players who is making receivers coach Derrick Nix and others take notice. Since coming over as part of an apparent pipeline between Western Kentucky and Ole Miss, Wade is also getting the praises of his teammates in quick order.

Having yet another receiver in Wade that can slide in seemingly anywhere on the field, and on a depth chart that the offense may not even need at this point, is just welcomed insurance.

“I think ‘D-Wade’ is a heck of a player,” Watkins said. “He came from WKU and I came from Louisville so we’re kind of close to each other a little bit. But I think ‘D-Wade’ is a heck of a player. I think he can make plays anywhere. From outside to slot. He’s just that kind of guy that can make plays anywhere and the ball just seems to find him. …He runs really good routes. Probably the best route runner that we have.”

Related: Dayton Wade made a “gamble” choosing Ole Miss after a life-changing phone call

Watch Watkins’ full post-practice interview from Wednesday below.