Hogs Add LSU Receiver Jelani Watkins

Jelani Watkins
Wide Receiver | 5-10 | 162 | LaPlace, La. | Atascocita HS / LSU

At LSU

2025 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Saw action in three games … Caught two passes for a total of 21 yards in a win over Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 20) … Also saw action against Vanderbilt (Oct. 18) and Oklahoma (Nov. 29).

2024 (FRESHMAN): Redshirted as a true freshman in 2024 … Appeared in 2 games, seeing action against Nicholls and South Carolina … Did not record any statistics.

HIGH SCHOOL: Rated with 4-stars in the On3 composite and ranked No. 207 nationally, No. 35 at his position and No. 37 overall in the state of Texas … Ranked as high as No. 5 nationally at wide receiver by ESPN and No. 98 overall … Dual sport athlete who also excelled in track and field … Two-time Texas UIL 6A 200-meter state champion … Won the titles as both a sophomore and junior … Claimed the title in 2023 with a 20.54 time, .32 seconds faster than the second-place finisher … Ran the anchor on Klein’s state champion 4×100 relay team …Born in Louisiana but moved to Texas as a child … Clocked at 10.27 in the 100 … Plans to also run track at LSU … Played final season of high school football at Atascocita after transferring from Klein High School … Older brother Monte Watkins plays running back at New Mexico State.

PERSONAL: Joined the LSU track team in January of 2025 as a dual sport athlete for the Tigers … Made an immediate impact on the track, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors in just his second meet … Runs the 60 and 200-meters indoors … Clocked at 6.63 in the 60-meter at the New Mexico Collegiate, which tied for seventh-fastest time in school history … Turned in a 20.85 time in the 200-meters at the same meet.