Jelani Watkins: The Speed Demon Who Runs Both Worlds at LSU

Some guys are fast. Some guys are electric. And then there’s Jelani Watkins, a blur in cleats, a rocket in spikes, and LSU’s newest two-sport marvel. You’d be forgiven for blinking and missing him, whether he’s streaking down the football field or leaving sprinters grasping for air on the track. But make no mistake, this young man is not new to the business of being fast.

Watkins made his grand entrance at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, his first official race donning LSU purple and gold. The freshman glided through the 60m dash in 6.97 seconds because why ease in when you can make a statement? But this isn’t an overnight revelation. Anyone who has been paying attention knew Watkins was born with a turbo button.

Before he ever set foot in Baton Rogue, Watkins has already solidified himself as one of the premier speedsters in the nation. A product of Atlascocita High School in Texas, he left his mark in both football and track, making a habit of breaking the sound barrier. A win-legal 10.22 in the 100m at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet Invitational, good for the fastest high school time ever recorded in March and 28th fastest in U.S. history.

It’s no wonder head football coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers made sure he landed in Death Valley. The four-star receiver turned down offers from Texas, Arkansas, and Texas A&M, instead choosing to bring his Olympic-caliber speed to LSU. And let’s be honest, the Tigers didn’t just land a receiver-they secured a future problem for SEC secondaries and special teams coordinators alike. With Watkins lined up as both a receiving and return game threat, good luck to the defenders who think they have an angle on him.

And while football fans drool over his playmaking potential, the track world is just as hyped. The kid is a two-time Texas UIL 6A 200m state champion, clocking a 20.54 to win gold as a junior. Speed runs in the family, too. His brother, Ahmonte Watkins, once a track athlete himself, is continuing his football career at New Mexico State.

Whether torching cornerbacks in the fall or breaking records in the spring, Watkins promises to be redefining speed in athletics. And for anyone standing in the way? Well, they ‘d better hope they have a head start.