Watkins commits to play football at Centre College
Oakley Watkins, 18, a senior at Franklin County High School, has committed to play football at Centre College.
Watkins, who also plays basketball at FCHS, was named Second Team All-State by the Courier-Journal and selected for the Kentucky-Tennessee Border Bowl All-Star Game.
Parent: Mark and Jacqueline Watkins.
Plans to major in: Pre-Law.
GPA: 3.95.
Selected school because: I selected Centre College because it is the perfect fit for me. While I am excited about the Centre football program and coaching staff, I am also very impressed with all that Centre College has to offer academically. I know that I will have the opportunity to contribute in many ways in addition to football at Centre College. I realize that Centre will equip me with the tools necessary to be successful in life. Centre is also close to home so my family will be able to watch my football games.
Selected school over: South Alabama, Troy, Texas A&M-Commerce, Mount St. Joseph’s and North Carolina Tech.
Letters earned: basketball (three years), football (four years).
Positions played in high school: offensive lineman, defensive lineman.
Football honors received: Second team All-State by the Courier-Journal, Kentucky-Tennessee Border Bowl All-Star Game, 2009 “Best of the Bluegrass” Kentucky East-West All-Star squad, 2005-2009 Scholar Athlete Award, 2006-2008 KHSAA Academic All-State first team, All-District (two years), All-County, Offensive Lineman of the Year, 2008 winner of “King of Camp” 1-on-1 Lineman Competition at Auburn.
Dennis Ledford on Watkins: “I am proud that Oakley has decided to attend Centre. Oakley will be attending a school with high academic expectations and a fine football program. Oakley was an outstanding young man both on and off the field. It is those players that excel on the field that are most impressive to coaches. As a Flyer, Oakley has achieved every award possible as a lineman here. He will be an asset to any college program. I expect him to achieve highly at Centre.”
Centre football coach Andy Frye on Watkins: “We believe Oakley can challenge and compete for playing time early in his career. He has the potential to be an outstanding offensive lineman in the SCAC. His best football is definitely ahead of him.”