Winston Watkins Jr. Season 2026
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.
Winston Watkins’ Career Highs
Receiving
Receptions: 5 vs. The Citadel, 2025
Yards: 111 at Oklahoma, 2025
TDs: 1 vs. The Citadel, 2025
Long Reception: 43 at Oklahoma, 2025