Watkins commits to Kentucky after a game-changing visit to Lexington.
Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats football staff added another key piece to their 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of Lincoln Watkins, a 3-star tight end out of Port Huron, Michigan.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 233 pounds, Watkins is a physically impressive target who brings size, strength, and upside to Kentucky’s offense. His highest ranking comes from Rivals, who has him rated as a 4-star prospect ranked 16th among tight ends and eighth in the state of Michigan.
Watkins’ commitment marks the first tight end commitment under the new tight ends coach Derek Shay, who took over following the departure of longtime tight ends coach Vince Marrow to Louisville. It’s a strong first addition for Shay, showing he can recruit and connect with prospects early in his role.
Earlier this week, Watkins made an official visit to Lexington, and it turned out to be a game-changer. Shortly after the trip, Watkins announced his commitment to Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats over Florida, Nebraska, Indiana, and other schools.
The addition of Watkins is another signal that Kentucky’s 2026 class is gaining momentum and that the staff continues to identify and land high-upside talent from outside the traditional SEC footprint.
With Watkins’ size and potential to grow into a true dual-threat tight end, Kentucky fans should be excited about what he could bring to the field in the years to come.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 4 ⭐️ TE Lincoln Watkins ( @LinkWatkins2026 ) has committed to Kentucky he tells me.
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Lincoln Watkins is a 6’4 (235 LBS) Tight End out of Port Huron, MI. He has a total of 33 offers but ultimately chose Kentucky over Florida, Nebraska, and Indiana. He… pic.twitter.com/pK64L7Xe6T— Steezo (@SteezoDsgn) June 21, 2025
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