Jordan Watkins
{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jordan Watkins
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = San Francisco 49ers
| number = 17
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|2|15}}
| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 196
| high_school = Butler Traditional {{nowrap|(Louisville, Kentucky)}}
| college = Louisville (2020–2021)
Ole Miss (2022–2024)
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 138
| pastteams =
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Tackles
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles|statvalue3=
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = WatkJo00
}}
Jordan Watkins (born February 15, 2002) is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and the Ole Miss Rebels. Watkins was selected by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life
Watkins was born on February 15, 2002, and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky.{{Cite web|url=https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-watkins/5201|publisher=Ole Miss Rebels|title=Jordan Watkins}} He attended Butler Traditional High School in Louisville where he played football as a wide receiver, recording 34 receptions for 679 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior{{Cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2019/10/29/louisville-football-butler-receiver-jordan-watkins-commits-u-l/2495706001/|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|title=Three-star Butler receiver Jordan Watkins commits to Louisville football|date=October 29, 2019|author=Robinson, Cameron Teague}} and then 37 receptions for 712 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/louisville/article/louisvilles-jordan-watkins-ready-to-make-move-to-campus-147821215/|website=247Sports|title=Louisville's Jordan Watkins ready to make move to campus|date=June 3, 2020|author=McCammon, Michael}} Although initially committed to play college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, Watkins, a three-star recruit, later changed his commitment to the Louisville Cardinals.{{Cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2019/10/10/kentucky-football-butler-wr-jordan-watkins-decommits/3936884002/|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|title=After visiting Louisville, Butler star Jordan Watkins decommits from Kentucky football|date=October 10, 2019|author=Hale, Jon}}
College career
=Louisville=
Watkins saw limited playing time as a freshman at Louisville in 2020, recording eight receptions for 57 yards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2020/11/27/jordan-watkins-motivated-by-early-lousville-football-success/6389110002/|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|date=November 27, 2020|url-access=subscription|title=Louisville football: Jordan Watkins motivated by early success}} In 2021, he placed second on the team with 35 catches for 529 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/louisville/football/jordan-watkins-enters-portal|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Louisville WR Jordan Watkins Enters Transfer Portal|date=November 30, 2021|author=McGavic, Matthew}} He entered the NCAA transfer portal following the season.
=Ole Miss=
Watkins ended up transferring to the Ole Miss Rebels for the 2022 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2021/12/22/jordan-watkins-ole-miss-football-lane-kiffin-transfer-portal-receiver/8995634002/|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|url-access=subscription|title=Louisville WR transfer Jordan Watkins commits to Ole Miss. Here's what it means.|date=December 22, 2021}} In his first year there, he started 10 games and caught 40 passes for 449 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/article/veteran-wr-jordan-watkins-waited-patiently-now-its-his-time-213644602/|website=247Sports|title=Veteran wide receiver Jordan Watkins waited patiently but now it's his 'time'|date=August 4, 2023|author=Komis, Tyler}} In 2023, he caught 53 passes for 741 yards and three touchdowns, earning honorable mention All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honors from College Football Network.{{Cite news|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2023/12/09/ole-miss-football-jordan-watkins-nfl-draft-2024-lane-kiffin-tre-harris/71864300007/|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|title=Ole Miss football receiver Jordan Watkins announces intent to return for 2024 season|author=Eckert, David|date=December 9, 2023}} He announced a return for a final season in 2024, rather than declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.
During a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on November 2, 2024, Watkins caught eight passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns, setting the Ole Miss single-game record for receiving touchdowns, even though he had never before had a multi-touchdown game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jaxson-dart-jordan-watkins-set-ole-miss-records-crush-arkansas-to-stay-in-college-football-playoff-hunt/|work=CBS Sports|title=Jaxson Dart, Jordan Watkins set Ole Miss records, crush Arkansas to stay in College Football Playoff hunt |author=Cobb, David|date=November 2, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2024/11/02/ole-miss-football-jordan-watkins-rebels-receiving-record-arkansas-daughter/75882758007/|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|title=How fatherhood gave Ole Miss football receiver Jordan Watkins perspective for record day|author=Hutchens, Sam|date=November 2, 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/4
| weight = 196
| dash = 4.37
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.56
| vertical = 36.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 11
| arm span = 29 3/8
| hand span = 9 1/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jordan-watkins/32005741-5423-4962-f2e3-76ea93ee38ef |title=Jordan Watkins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1045704&DraftYear=2025 |title=Jordan Watkins College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}
}}
Watkins was selected in the fourth round (138th pick) by the San Francisco 49ers at the 2025 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=49ers Select WR Jordan Watkins with the No. 138 Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-select-wr-jordan-watkins-with-the-no-138-pick-in-the-2025-nfl-draft |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=49ers.com |language=en-US}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Justin |date=2024-11-08 |title=The kid from 'nowhere' setting records at Ole Miss |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5905951/2024/11/08/ole-miss-jordan-watkins/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |work=The Athletic}}
External links
- [https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jordan-watkins/ San Francisco 49ers bio]
- [https://gocards.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-watkins/11480 Louisville Cardinals bio]
- [https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-watkins/4545 Ole Miss Rebels bio]
{{San Francisco 49ers 2025 NFL draft picks|state=collapsed}}
{{San Francisco 49ers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, Jordan}}
Category:Players of American football from Louisville, Kentucky
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Louisville Cardinals football players
Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players