How Winston Watkins fits with LSU football, WR depth chart
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BATON ROUGE ― Everyone wondered when it would happen. It didn’t take long after Ole Miss’s exit from the College Football Playoff.
Just four days after the Rebels were bounced from the CFP in the semifinals, the first players from Lane Kiffin‘s former team has followed him to LSU football. Freshman wide receiver Winston Watkins has signed with the Tigers Monday morning.
Watkins played for Kiffin at Ole Miss this past season. The expectation is that he won’t be the only Ole Miss player to join LSU as the transfer portal window will close at the end of this week.
As a freshman in 2025, Watkins played in 11 games, catching 26 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown. In the CFP semifinals against Miami last Thursday, he had one reception for 3 yards.
Why Winston Watkins picked LSU football out of transfer portal
This is pretty simple. Kiffin recruited Watkins out of high school, along with new LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and new LSU receivers coach George McDonald, so there’s already deep, established connection there.
When a player’s head coach, coordinator and position coach all leave for the same place, it’s easy to see that player wanting to reunite with them at their next spot.
How Winston Watkins will fit LSU football’s roster
Considering the wealth of knowledge Watkins already has about Kiffin and Weis’ offensive scheme and playbook, the coaches adding him to a room that is basically starting over makes sense. In fact, while Watkins is the eighth transfer wide receiver the Tigers have brought in, that knowledge could be a separator for him to get on the field before a number of older, more experienced receivers.
Kiffin and crew have loved Watkins’ game since high school and he’ll be a solid addition to the 2020 LSU team.
LSU football transfer targets
- USC quarterback Husan Longstreet
- Alabama offensive lineman Micah DeBose
- North Carolina State wide receiver Terrell Anderson
- California-Davis running back Carter Vargas
- McNeese State cornerback Javon Davis
When does transfer portal close?
The NCAA transfer portal window closes Jan. 16. Players cannot enter their name in the portal following that date, but those whose name is already in the transfer portal can still decide and sign with a new school after Jan. 16.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How transfer portal WR Winston Watkins fits with LSU football roster
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