Tennessee is now pursuing Kentucky tight end commit Lincoln Watkins

Tennessee saw four-star commit Carson Sneed flip to North Carolina on Friday. The Vols are now moving to their next target at tight end. That happens to be a prospect committed to Kentucky.

Port Hurton (Mich.) Huron tight end Lincoln Watkins was offered by new Kentucky tight ends coach Derek Shay on June 14. The Wildcats locked up a commitment one week later after Florida had previously emerged as the favorite in this recruitment.

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Now another SEC program has entered the ring.

“It was definitely a cool feeling getting that offer,” Watkins told Rivals about the Tennessee offer. “That has been my school since I was a little guy so it felt good making younger me proud.”

Kentucky currently has five scholarship tight ends on the roster with Josh Kattus entering his final season of eligibility. Lincoln Watkins is the program’s only commit that that position. The Cats will now need to hold off a push from the Vols as the three-star prospect likely now makes an official visit to Rocky Top this football season.

Recruiting never stops.

Kentucky’s 2026 high school recruiting class

Player	Position	High School	Ranking
Matt Ponatoski	QB (6-2, 190)	Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller	4-star (No. 241 overall)
Messiah Tilson	S (6-2, 165)	Rockford (Ill.) Guilford	4-star (No. 323 overall)
Jordan Crutchfield	CB (6-2, 195)	Vero Beach (Fla.) High	4-star (No. 389 overall)
Denairius Gray	WR (6-1, 170)	Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna	3-star (No. 401 overall)
Dallas Dickerson	WR (6-1, 180)	Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee	High 3-star (No. 536 overall)
Tyreek Jemison	iOL (6-5, 330)	Dallas (Ga.) Paulding County	High 3-star (No. 561 overall)
Lincoln Watkins	TE (6-4, 225)	Port Huron (Mich.) Northern	3-star (No. 608 overall)
Garrett Witherington	DL (6-4, 290)	Birmingham (Ala.) Briarwood Christian	3-star (No. 818 overall)
Isaiah McMillian	CB (6-0, 170)	Katy (Texas) High	3-star (No. 853 overall)
Ben Duncum	DL (6-5, 250)	Austin (Texas) Lake Travis	3-star (No. 894 overall)
Davis McCray	WR (6-2, 190)	San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian	3-star (No. 920 overall)
Prince Jean	WR (6-0, 170)	Valdosta (Ga.) High	3-star (No. 943 overall)
Cameron Miller	T (6-5, 310)	Hammond (Ind.) Morton	3-star (No. 963 overall)
Max Mohring	LB (6-3, 215)	Malvern (Pa.) Prep	3-star (No. 1,033 overall)
Delvecchio “Deuce” Alston II	RB (6-0, 200)	Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville	3-star (No. 1,210 overall)