LSU Football Opens 2 Weeks From Today: Player Profile Number 35 – WR Winston Watkins

Smiling LSU football player in a white jersey with purple and gold stripes against a gray backdrop. — LSU sophomore wide receiver Winnie Watkins is a transfer from Ole Miss. (LSU photo).

TIGER RAG NEWS SERVICES

The countdown continues to No. 11 LSU opening the football season against No. 23 Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 5, in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC).

The Tigers have a full-contact scrimmage scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday that is closed to reporters.

Today’s No. 35 player profile is sophomore wide receiver Winston “Winnie” Watkins, one of four transfers from Ole Miss who followed coach Lane Kiffin from the Rebels after the 2025 regular season along with edge Princewill Umanmielen, linebacker TJ Dottery and offensive lineman Devin Harper.

Ole Miss WR Winston Watkins Jr. Follows Lane Kiffin To Baton Rouge And Becomes Portal Addition No. 24 For LSU

Watkins (5-foot-10, 182 pounds) caught 26 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown last season as a backup, playing 15 games with no starts.

TIGER RAG SCOUTING REPORT: Twitchy slot receiver with quick route running and yard-after-catch ability.

BIOGRAPHY NOTES:

Talented wideout who joins the LSU program after 1 season at Ole Miss … Former 4-star recruit who spent early part of prep career at IMG Academy … Signed with Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss in December of 2024 and was a mid-year enrollee … Appeared in all 15 games as a true freshman for the Rebels in 2025, catching 26 passes for 373 yards and a TD … Caught a pass in 11 of 15 games and had 1 catch against Georgia and Miami in the College Football Playoffs … Named to Chancellor’s Honor Roll at Ole Miss in the spring of 2025.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2025 at Ole Miss)
Played in all 15 games with no starts for the Rebels … Helped Ole Miss to the best season in school history, going 13-2 and reaching the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs … Caught 26 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown … Added 21 rushing yards on 5 carries … Caught at least 1 pass in 11 games … Had 2 receptions for 33 yards in his collegiate debut against Georgia State … Career-high 5 catches for 80 yards and first career TD vs. The Citadel … TD pass vs. The Citadel went for 11 yards in first quarter … Led team in receiving yards with 111 on 4 catches in road win over Oklahoma … Had a 40-yard catch early in the fourth quarter in win over Oklahoma, setting up the go-ahead touchdown for the Rebels … Three-catch games against LSU (38 yards), Florida (34 yards), and at Mississippi State (31 yards) … Had a catch for 7 yards in win over Georgia in CFP Quarterfinals … Had 1 reception for 3 yards against Miami in the CFP Semifinals.

HIGH SCHOOL
Ranked as a consensus 4-star prospect by all major national recruiting services … Rated the No. 15 wide receiver prospect in the country by Rivals … Ranked as a top-60 recruit in the state of Florida by Rivals, ESPN, 247 and On3, checking in as high as No. 21 by Rivals … Hauled in 78 passes for 1,011 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior … Averaged 77.8 yards per game and 13.0 yards per catch … Also had 129 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns across his junior and senior seasons … Caught 61 passes for 1,170 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023 … Averaged 146.3 receiving yards and 19.2 yards per reception … Coached by John Peacock.

CAREER HIGHS:
Receptions: 5 vs. The Citadel, 2025
Yards: 111 at Oklahoma, 2025
TDs: 1 vs. The Citadel, 2025
Long Reception: 43 at Oklahoma, 2025

NEXT: Linebacker Whit Weeks

PREVIOUS BIOS

Defensive Tackle Richard Anderson

Offensive Guard Aliou Bah

Safety Ty Benefield

Running Back Harlem Berry

Defensive Tackle Malik Blocton

Offensive Guard Bo Bordelon

Wide Receiver Jayce Brown

Defensive End Lamar Brown

Wide Receiver Tre Brown III