Another day, another Tennessee flip attempt. According to a report from On3, the Vols are trying to poach Kentucky’s lone tight end commit in the 2025 class—Lincoln Watkins, a 3-star athlete out of Port Huron, Michigan.
Watkins committed to Kentucky just one week after tight ends coach Derek Shay offered him on June 14. Shay who replaced Marrow hit the ground running with a nice commit from a player with a lot of upside. Florida was the early favorite, but the Wildcats closed quickly. Tennessee’s late entry might complicate things, though.
“It was definitely a cool feeling getting that offer,” Watkins told Rivals. “That has been my school since I was a little guy.” Since it has been his school since he was little means that the pull Vols offer will be strong, even with NIL match. If a player was a fan of the school growing up, that school is good, and the NIL is right, that is a trifecta that will be hard to overcome.
Watkins is no ordinary project though. At 6'4", 233 pounds, he caught 39 passes for 668 yards and added 245 rushing yards with 17 total touchdowns as a junior. He also competed in shot put (51'5"), discus (150'1"), long jump (20'4"), and ran a 10.89 relay split according to 247sports. He’s an athlete’s athlete that will only get better in a college program.
THE WIRE EXCLUSIVE
— Signing Day Sports (@SDSports) July 9, 2025
Lincoln Watkins — 4⭐️ TE out of Port Huron (MI)
Committed to the Kentucky Wildcats.
Full story dropping tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/h2zfKRSqAQ
The Vols are no strangers to flipping Cats. Khalifa Keith did it in 2022. He left Kentucky for Tennessee… then barely touched the field before landing at App State.
Kentucky wants Watkins badly. With one tight end spot locked in and the portal always looming, holding onto him would be a major recruiting win for Mark Stoops’ staff—especially against a border rival with a knack for stirring the pot.
Expect this one to get really heated before signing day.