Summer trips are lining up for eight-offer 2024 Florida ATH/WR Jamil Watkins
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Another year on the gridiron for Jamil Watkins, another season of playing all over the field for Vanguard High School (Fla.). The Knights added Watkins (6-2, 170) to their secondary last season pairing with the ongoing duties already on offense at receiver. Teams are liking what they are seeing in the versatile 2024 athlete handing over eight offers, and recruiting action for Watkins is heating up with spring practices in full swing.
Vanguard will feature Watkins at receiver, corner, and safety this fall. The rising talent talked about his preferences on the field.
“I really like receiver,” Watkins said. “Last year was my first-time playing corner; I liked it, but receiver is really my main position.”
The Knights’ multiple formation offensive attack is guided by versatile four-star 2024 talent Fred Gaskin.
“We run split back, I-formation, single back, we run twins, off-set I, option, Wildcat formation – we have it all,” Watkins stated.
Preparations have been ongoing for his senior season.
“This offseason I have been working on my footwork,” Watkins shared. “I want to get my routes better, have faster feet, and get off the ball faster. To get faster, I have been doing cone and ladder drills. I’ve also been working on my hands doing ball skill drills and working to get my coordination right.”
Extra work has been put in this offseason playing 7-on-7 with Prime Truth.
“We won one and lost two,” Watkins said. “We just competed at OT7 (Overtime 7) in Baltimore and we’re going to California next – we are winning that one. Our team ain’t losing bad, we’ve just lost to the team that wins it all in the championship game or in the semifinals. Our team is not a push over.”
Liberty, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Florida Atlantic, Iowa State, and Miami are among the offering teams for Watkins.
The teams further evaluating Watkins this spring was shared, “Troy and East Carolina. East Carolina has really been in contact with me. We text nearly every day.”
Iowa State, FAU, Liberty, and Miami are among the offering teams keeping Watkins’ phone lighting up. Action may pick up with two other in-state teams.
“I went to UCF’s spring game, and I went to USF (South Florida) for a Junior Day, but I didn’t go to Florida’s spring game; I had a tournament that day,” Watkins stated.
Receiving an offer from the Knights is on Watkins’ to do list.
“That visit went well,” Watkins said. “The UCF coaches are cool. I have been there a lot since my freshman year. UCF is a good school, and their coaches are really cool. I like their facilities. I haven’t gotten the offer from them yet, but I am working on it.”
Adding an offer from the Bulls in Tampa is on that to do list as well.
“That was a good visit,” Watkins shared. “USF’s coaches, they enjoyed talking to me and I enjoyed talking to them. I am waiting on that offer. USF is a good school.”
Traveling with Prime Truth to California for OT7’s National Championship will get Watkins in front of coaches at UCLA and USC. This summer, some camp dates are being set.
“I know I have Florida State and I am supposed to go to Clemson,” Watkins stated. “We are doing a bus tour that will also include Duke and South Carolina. I’m not sure of all the camps we will be going to this summer.”