WATCH: LSU two-sport commitment Jelani Watkins
The LSU football staff and the track-and-field staff both got good news on Friday when Texas four-star and Louisiana native Jelani Watkins announced his commitment to the Tigers.
Watkins is ranked as the No. 191 overall prospect and No. 32 wide receiver in the country.
As a junior at Klein Forest, Watkins caught 37 passes for 612 yards and six touchdowns.
Watkins was also a standout on the track, taking home UIL Class 6A state titles this spring in both the 200-meter dash and 4×100 relay.
Here’s a look at what the Tigers are getting in one of America’s fastest wide receiver prospects.
Watkins joins a 4-man WR class in Baton Rouge
Watkins joins Louisiana wide receivers Kylan Billiot and Michael Turner as well as Georgia’s JoJo Stone as the fourth wide receiver commitment for LSU assistant Cortez Hankton.
On3 National Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power circled the four-star prospect’s speed as something that will separate him from the group once the commitments get to campus in Baton Rouge.
“Watkins carries that speed over the field on Friday nights,” Power said. “He has a ton of burst. In addition to straight line speed, he changes directions well. He can take the top off a defense, and any time the ball is in his hands he’s a threat to take it to the house. He plays with an exceptional burst and speed.”
LSU track-and-field lands one of the Lone Star State’s elite
Watkins is also a star in track-and-field, and he landed a verbal scholarship in March to also join the track program at LSU.
“He is one of the fastest prospects in the 2024 cycle and doubles as one of the best track athletes we’ve seen in this cycle,” said On3 National Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power.
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. Watkins also has a number of impressive 100-meter dash times, including a personal record of 10.27.
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.
