LSU football bringing in elite speed from Texas
The LSU football team signed two of the fastest football prospects in America, and the Tigers have a commitment from a five-star wide receiver who also possesses elite speed.
As track season rolls on, LSU wide receiver signee Jelani Watkins, running back signee Caden Durham and 5-star wide receiver commitment Dakorien Moore are turning heads and setting records.
Watkins and Durham, who both signed with LSU in December, will have the opportunity to run track and play football for the Tigers. Moore, only a junior, could be on the same path.
From impressive relay times to a No. 1 national ranking, here’s how the trio has fared over the past month.
Durham, Moore shining bright for Duncanville
On a four-man team that features Durham and Moore, Duncanville just set the Bob Albert Relays record with a 40.66 4×100 relay. One week ago, the group clocked a 40.71 in meet competition.
Durham is also running on Duncanville’s 4×200 relay, with the foursome clocking a 1:27.57 earlier this month.
During outdoor season as a junior, Durham – a Top 10 running back prospect who checks in at 5-foot-9, 200 pounds – clocked a wind-aided 10.25 100-meter dash. He also logged a wind-aided 21.12 in the 200-meter dash.
As a sophomore in 2023, Moore’s outdoor season included personal bests (wind-aided) of 10.63 in the 100-meter dash and 21.38 in the 200-meter dash.
Both Durham and Moore will compete in team and individual events for Duncanville this spring.
Durham closed out his high school football career as the No. 5 running back on the On3 Industry Rankings, while Moore wrapped up his junior season as the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2025 class.
Watkins heads to LSU with elite track speed
Durham and Moore aren’t the lone Texas Tigers making waves.
The Millrose Games, tabbed as the nation’s premier indoor meet, saw Watkins win the boys high school 60-meter dash with a 6.68. It was the No. 2 time in United States competition this spring.
In late-January, Watkins soared up the MileSplit Top 50 rankings to take over the No. 1 spot for high school boys indoor competition in 2024.
Watkins is off to a fast start following a dominant 2023 season as a junior, winning back-to-back 6A 200-meter titles, capturing a 4×100 title with Klein Forest while also standing out in the 100-meter. 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. Watkins also has a number of impressive 100-meter dash times, including a personal record of 10.27.
With outdoor competition still to come, Watkins is likely to continue to set personal records en route to stacking up more state titles. Watkins closed out his high school football career as a four-star and Top 250 prospect on the On3 Industry Rankings.
