Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
In this era, it’s common for a coaching staff and a significant amount of players to move from one school to another.
It’s rare that it happens between rivals.
When Lane Kiffin bolted Oxford for Baton Rouge, rumors began to swirl about which players would follow. The biggest names on the Ole Miss roster were bantered about. Ultimately, two of the most productive defenders came. So did a young talent on the offensive line.
The first to take the jump, though, was Winston Watkins.
WHAT WE KNOW
Watkins trusts Kiffin implicitly. He called the new LSU head coach “a wide receiver genius” on After Further Review following his transfer.
The Fort Myers, FL., native was a consensus four-star recruit when he signed with Ole Miss in the 2025 class. He’s 5-foot-11 and 185 lbs., and his defining traits is his speed and shiftiness. Wakins had 1,011 yards and 17 touchdowns receiving as a senior and was called the No. 15 wide receiver in the country by Rivals.
As a freshman at Ole Miss, he played in all 15 games and made 26 catches for 373 yards and a score. In Ole Miss’s big road win over Oklahoma in November, he led the team with 111 yards including a huge 40-yard catch to set up a late touchdown.
THE FIT
There’s a reason Watkins was identified by Kiffin and wide receivers coach George McDonald.
Speed.
Kiffin’s offense thrives on creating indecision on defense, and speed is the best was to exploit that. Watkins is among the nine transfer wide outs Kiffin and Co. brought in, and Watkins fits in with the other slot receivers with game-changing acceleration. He’ll join Tre Wilson and Tyree Holloway as the shorter wide outs with great burst and change of direction.
Phillip Wright, the only returner at wide receiver, and Corey Barber and Jabari Mack from the signing class can also really move.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
While everyone on the offensive side frantically tries to learn this new offense that features three or four new starting offensive linemen, three new quarterbacks and a completely revamped wide receiver group, Watkins already knows it.
That’s going to give him a leg up in the spring. And my hunch, just mine, is that Kiffin is going to appreciate Watkins for following him. I think that’s human nature.
So, I expect Watkins to have an edge on the rest of the group. And I expect him to be a significant contributor.
Right now, I think the most likely top targets with seven months to go before they kick it off are Jayce Brown, Tre Wilson, Tre Brown and Watkins. One of the bigger targets like Jackson Harris and Roman Mothershed will step forward, and Barber is a threat to break through as a freshman, but I firmly put Watkins in the mix at the top.
I think he’ll make 25 to 40 catches including some big plays with that game-breaking speed and great quickness. I don’t think I’d call Watkins a threat to be LSU’s leading receiver. I think Jayce Brown is that guy until proven otherwise. But, he’s going to be a big part of the passing game both down the field and in the quick game.
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