Ole Miss wide receiver Jordan Watkins continues to be consistent force for Rebel offense
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss is preparing for the final home conference game of the 2023 season this week. The Rebels are currently on a four-game win streak and look to move that number to five as Texas A&M (5-3, 3-2 SEC) comes to Vaught-Hemingway Saturday. One key player for Ole Miss to emerge victorious could be wide receiver Jordan Watkins.
The Rebels have faced some talented opponents this season and this week is certainly no exception to that as the Aggies have one of the most talented rosters in all of college football.
But with a record of 7-1, the Rebels have certainly proven they, too, have plenty of talent to go around. To that point, Ole Miss is the only power five team with three receivers having more than 500 yards receiving as Watkins, Dayton Wade and Tre Harris have all crossed that mark.
Everybody eats 👨🍳
Only P5 Team with 3 WRs with 500+ Yards!#ComeToTheSip pic.twitter.com/atJVDfESqP
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 30, 2023
Watkins suffered a broken hand during the bye week. Although he was extremely limited in the game following the bye, against Auburn, his will to be there for his teammates led him to suit up for gametime.
“I knew I was going to be limited going into the Auburn game. Just really wasn’t thinking about it, really. I was more focused on the team and just coming out with a huge win on the road. Place like Jordan-Hare (Stadium) it’s a crazy, crazy environment so I was focused on helping the team and getting a win. If I felt like I could help the team, which I could, then I was going out there and playing… I think just me being in a role where guys look up to me and playing a huge impact on the offense, I just felt like it would be better if I was out there with my guys instead of just sitting on the sideline or being sent home watching the game. It wouldn’t feel right to me. I don’t think I’ve ever missed a college game my whole career, and I wasn’t going to start that day. That was kind of my mindset going into it.”
Jordan Watkins
His desire to play was one thing — but proving he could do so was another.
“Saturday morning I walked down to the lobby and said ‘Coach, I’m able to catch a ball.’ He just looked at me like ‘are you serious?’ I was like ‘Yeah, for sure.’ He made me prove it to him that I can catch. We were just throwing balls in the ballroom. I had one of the trainers throwing to me and (Kiffin) was like, ‘Nah, that’s not going to cut it. Then we had Jaxson. We pulled Jaxson Dart out of breakfast, and he came in just ripping it. That’s how it was going to be in the game. Kiffin was like, ‘if you can’t catch game-like passes, you’re not going to play.”
Jordan Watkins on proving he could play against Auburn
After the Auburn game, Watkins had a week to recover and was able to contribute last Saturday against Vanderbilt as he hauled in three passes for 44 yards and one punt return for 19 yards. This week he could play a huge role in the Ole Miss passing attack.
In the last three games, the Rebels only have three passing touchdowns compared to the 13 passing touchdowns in the first five games of the season.
With three receivers having over 500 yards on the season, the connection between them and quarterback Jaxson Dart is strong. There is no doubt that bond between quarterback and receiver is critical. Watkins talked earlier this week about a trip Dart took some of his receivers on during the offseason, helping to foster the leadership and chemistry on this team.
“That helped tremendously,” Watkins said of the trip, “because we were able to connect and bond. Just going out to eat or taking a trip like that, obviously there was football involved, but there was a lot of non-football things too. Just being out, going shopping, just going out and having a good time together, really. It’s kind of like your best friend almost. I feel like we’ve built that relationship where I can call him one of my best friends on and off the field and that helps tremendously on the field.”
The Ole Miss offense will certainly have its hands full this week as the Rebels face a Texas A&M defense that is giving up fewer than 200 passing yards a game and under 100 rushing yards per game. To go along with that, the Aggies are ranked seventh nationally in third down defense as they are holding opponents to just a 29% conversion rate.
It will fall to Watkins and a talented group of Rebel offensive players to overcome the A&M defense.
Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk as we will have much more on the upcoming game against Texas A&M.
Hotty Toddy and Go Rebs!!!
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
