Lane Kiffin jokingly downplays Winston Watkins skillset to avoid tampering, transfer portal inducements

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin jokingly downplayed WR Winston Watkins’ skillset after their win over LSU on Saturday. He didn’t want Watkins to be tampered with all of a sudden and transfer from the Rebels.

He was joking of course, but maybe there was some semblance of truth to Kiffin’s words. Watkins finished the win with three catches for 38 yards in the victory. It wasn’t anything crazy, but the true freshman could be a key piece down the line this year and in the future.

Kiffin is very excited about “Winnie” in the Ole Miss offense. Right now, everyone’s excited considering the Rebels are 5-0 on the season.

“He’s gonna be a great player here, shoot I’m not supposed to say that. Everybody will go buy him in the portal, not supposed to do that anymore. I mean, he’s just okay, you know, really doesn’t know his plays and stuff,” Kiffin said to laughs. “So, you know, really, it’ll be a couple years before he’s good. Winnie’s  awesome, he’s a really good player. It’s cool because Jordan and then Cayden and now him in that same spot. And so, you know, we put him in there and it gives Cayden some rest, and he’s made a play every time we put him in. And so he made some today.”

Watkins has six catches for 84 yards on the season, registering stats in three games this year. But he was a much hyped prospect.

As a member of the Class of 2025, Watkins was a four-star recruit out of Fort Myers (Fla.) Venice, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was the No. 42 overall prospect in the state, the No. 41 wide receiver in the class and the No. 294 overall prospect in the class.

Kiffin clearly wants to keep Watkins long term on the team. He could be a big piece to an evolving offense around Trinidad Chambliss, who might end up being the permanent starting QB this year.

Either way, Ole Miss is all positive vibes right now. Even Paul Finebaum is amazed at Kiffin’s success, especially at home.

“Of course, you’ll think back to the Ole Miss narrative. Austin Simmons was going to be such a great quarterback, and Chambliss has come in and just turned people upside down,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “But listen, Lane Kiffin never disappoints. This was a big week for him with the E:60 and he delivered. Beating Lane Kiffin in Oxford has become nearly impossible … They’re in great shape.”