LSU the team to watch as Ole Miss WR Winston Watkins enters the transfer portal

Lane Kiffin has yet to sign his quarterback for the 2026 season, but he has been hard at work re-vamping LSU's WR room. Kiffin has added 4-star Eugene Wilson III from Florida, 4-star Tre' BRown III from Old Dominion, 4-star Jayce Brown from Kansas State, 4-star Malik Elzy from Illinois, and 3-star Jackson Harris from Hawai'i. But he might not be done bolstering his WR room in Baton Rouge.

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According to On3, Ole Miss freshman WR Winston Watkins plans to enter the transfer portal. Kiffin recruited and coached Watkins at Ole Miss this past season, and has an established relationship with the electric playmaker. Could we see a Kiffin/Watkins reunion at LSU?

Could Lane Kiffin land Ole Miss WR Winston Watkins in the transfer portal?

Hailing from Fort Myers, FL, Watkins played in all 15 of Ole Miss' games this season as a true freshman. In total, he collected 26 catches for 373 yards and a touchdown. He also added 21 rushing yards on 5 carries.

A former 4-star prospect, Watkins was ranked as the No. 27 player in the state of Florida and the No. 31 WR in the country for the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports. He initially chose to attend Ole Miss over other offers from the likes of Ohio State, Florida, Texas A&M, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. With three seasons of eligibility remaining, it seems likely that Kiffin heavily pursues a reunion with Watkins at LSU.

Some reports have already listed LSU as a team to watch, and Watkins' presence would bring even more depth to Kiffin's WR room for 2026. Along with having a relationship with Kiffin, Watkins was recruited and coached by current LSU WR coach George McDonald, who followed Kiffin from Oxford to Baton Rouge. Given those relationships, LSU seems to be the early favorite in Watkins' transfer portal recruitment.