With a stunning debut to the 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field season, this LSU wide receiver ends the collegiate sprinting debate.

NCAA Track & Field: New Star Erupts as LSU Wide Receiver Ends Massive Debate Ahead of Outdoor Season

What happens when a football speedster steps onto the track and field scene and torches the competition in his very first collegiate race? LSU’s wide receiver turned track sensation, just obliterated expectations with a jaw-dropping 100-meter dash in his outdoor debut on March 22, 2025, at the Lurline Hamilton Invitational. This blistering time doesn’t just mark a personal milestone—it ties him for the NCAA lead and crowns him the fastest in the SEC, effectively ending a heated debate about whether LSU’s wide receivers can claim supremacy as the nation’s speed elite in both football and track. According to an Instagram post by Fitzdunk, Jelani Watkins’ started off his outdoor season with an impressive 10.01 (+2.1) to tie for the fastest 100m time in the country. The post said, “Jelani Watkins is coming off a strong indoor season and kicks off his outdoor season with an impressive 10.01 (+2.1) to tie for the fastest 100m time in the country!” His 10.01-second run came in his first-ever collegiate outdoor 100-meter race, a wind-legal performance that showcased his explosive talent under Coach Dennis Shaver’s guidance. The post further said “As a freshman and member of LSU’s football team, Brian Kelly is likely keeping a close eye on his progress in track”, The redshirt freshman, who sat out the 2024 football season, didn’t waste time proving his worth on the track, posting a time that matches the best in the country as of March 29, 2025. Hosted at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium, this debut was part of LSU’s back-to-back home meets to kick off the outdoor season, setting a high bar for the Tigers’ campaign. Death Valley Voice wasn’t shy about declaring Watkins’ performance the ultimate word in a longstanding debate that LSU’s wideouts are the quickest in college football—and now, officially, in track as well. A member of LSU’s talented 2024 receiving class that featured prospects such as Kylan Billiot and Michael Turner, Watkins arrived in Baton Rouge with a personal best 100-meter time of 10.27 seconds in high school. His 10.01-second bound in his college opener demonstrates that his speed carries over perfectly from sport to sport, silencing skeptics who wondered if football players could keep up with track specialists. This breakout performance is not only a victory for Watkins—it’s a testament to LSU’s dual-sport heritage. With the Battle on the Bayou concluding on March 29 and a stacked slate of events coming up—including the SEC Outdoor Championships (May 15-17) and the NCAA Outdoor Championships (June 11-14)—Watkins has established himself as a threat to watch. His 10.01 equals the national lead, according to LSU Sports, and as the outdoor season progresses, he’s going to be competing for championships while redefining what it takes to be a two-sport sensation. ALONG WITH LSU’S JELANI WATKINS, OTHER NFL AND CFB STARS ARE SHAKING UP TRACK AND FIELD Watkins is not alone in football stardom invading the track party [https://www.essentiallysports.com/olympics-track-and-field-news-after-shacarri-richardson-lsu-aim-for-another-diamond-as-world-no-one-signs-to-track-and-field-program/] of 2025. The outdoor season is on track to become a war zone as a wave of NFL and college football legends swap cleats for spikes, making committed track athletes earn their medals. Consider Texas A&M’s De’Von Achane, an NFL running back with the Miami Dolphins, who came back to the collegiate track world during the off-season. On March 15, 2025, during the Aggie Spring Classic, Achane posted a 10.05-second 100-meter time, which would’ve qualified him for the NCAA elite company last season. His speed, refined on the gridiron, portends a larger trend of professional athletes resorting to the track to rediscover their limitations. And then there’s Alabama freshman cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe, who doubled up this spring with a 10.12-second 100-meter at the Crimson Tide Invitational on March 20. Mbakwe, a highly regarded 2024 CFB recruit, follows Watkins in combining football agility with track speed, expanding the limits of what dual-sport athletes can do. Include USC’s Zachariah Branch, a wide receiver who clocked a wind-aided 10.08 at the Trojan Opener on March 25, and the image becomes clear: football speedsters are pouring into the lanes. This influx is a serious test for track purists. Pure artists like Florida’s Grant Holloway—a world-class hurdler—and Oregon’s Kyree King, a sprinter, have honed their skills for years, only to now be confronted with raw, crossover talent possessing NFL- and CFB-level explosiveness. The outdoor season, which culminates in Eugene at the NCAA Championships, will determine if technique can overcome athleticism. Watkins, Achane, and their kind introduce unpredictability—untapped ability that can upend podiums and records. Coaches such as LSU’s Shaver and Texas A&M’s Pat Henry are embracing this hybrid model, blurring lines between sports and increasing stakes. For track athletes, the message is clear: adapt or get left behind. The debate is over. LSU’s fastest wide receiver isn’t just a football threat—he’s a track and field phenom, and Jelani Watkins is only getting started. But he’s not alone, and the 2025 outdoor season just got a lot faster. 

Shreyas Pai, an editor for NFL at EssentiallySports brings a unique analytical edge, where his background in data analytics and content strategy transforms complex football narratives into compelling stories. His professional expertise perfectly complements his deep-rooted passion for the game, creating content that resonates with both stats enthusiasts and casual fans alike. At EssentiallySports, Shreyas combines his analytical mindset, storytelling prowess, and genuine love for the game to deliver NFL coverage that informs, entertains, and welcomes readers into the fascinating world of professional football. When he's not crafting engaging NFL content, Shreyas finds joy in the company of his beloved pets, particularly golden retrievers, whom he playfully credits as the answer to life's greatest mysteries.

Shreyas Pai

NCAA Track &#038; Field: New Star Erupts as LSU Wide Receiver Ends Massive Debate Ahead of Outdoor Season

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NCAA Track & Field: New Star Erupts as LSU Wide Receiver Ends Massive Debate Ahead of Outdoor Season

NCAA Track & Field: New Star Erupts as LSU Wide Receiver Ends Massive Debate Ahead of Outdoor Season

Along with LSU’s Jelani Watkins, other NFL and CFB stars are shaking up Track and Field