NFL Scouting Combine:
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Watkins posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds, a vertical jump of 36.5 inches, and a broad jump of 9 feet, 11 inches.
Measurements:
Watkins is 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds. Additionally, he boasts an arm length of 29 3/8 inches and hands measuring 9 1/8 inches.
Hometown:
Louisville, KY
College Statistics:
Watkins registered 49 receptions for 906 yards and nine touchdowns through 12 games as a senior in 2024, per Sports Reference. Over his five collegiate seasons, he caught 185 passes for 2,682 yards with 18 touchdowns, transferring from Louisville to Ole Miss in 2022.
| Statistical Rundown | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | |||||||||
| 2020 | Louisville | ACC | FR | WR | 8 | 8 | 57 | 7.1 | -- | |||||||||
| 2021 | Louisville | ACC | FR | WR | 12 | 35 | 529 | 15.1 | 4 | |||||||||
| 2022 | Ole Miss | SEC | JR | WR | 13 | 40 | 449 | 11.2 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2023 | Ole Miss | SEC | SR | WR | 13 | 53 | 741 | 14 | 3 | |||||||||
| 2024 | Ole Miss | SEC | SR | WR | 12 | 49 | 906 | 18.5 | 9 | |||||||||
| Total | 58 | 185 | 2,682 | 14.5 | 18 | |||||||||||||
Lance Zierlein's NFL.com scouting report:
Compact wideout possessing good play strength and average athleticism. Watkins was schemed into favorable downfield opportunities at Ole Miss but is better suited for work as a possession slot receiver in the pros. He lacks speed but does a good job of playing through contact and competing for space. He's a body-catcher with a poor catch radius but grabs what's on target and carries the ball like a running back after the catch. Watkins lacks length and explosiveness but his toughness and ability to return punts could give him a puncher's chance.
NFL.com Draft Bio:
- 2020 (Louisville): Played in 9 games as a reserve (8-57-7.1 receiving; 1-23-23.0, TD rushing; 11-198-18.0 KR).
- 2021 (Louisville): Played in 12 games (35-529-15.1, 4 TDs receiving; 1-28-28.0 KR; 8-85-10.6 PR).
- 2022: Played in all 13 games with 10 starts (40-449-11.2, 2 TDs receiving; 13-68-5.2 PR).
- 2023: Played in all 13 games with 11 starts (53-741-14.0, 3 TDs receiving; 12-114-9.5, TD PR). Had surgery on his right hand during the team's bye week.
- 2024: Led team with 9 receiving TDs (49-906-18.5). Played in 12 games with 8 starts (3-20-6.7 rushing; 3-24-8.0 PR).
Pre-Draft Grade:
Watkins earned a pre-draft grade of 5.8 from NFL.com, which equates to an "average backup or special-teams player," per the site's 8-point grading scale.
Projection:
NFL.com projected Watkins to be a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick.
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