Jordan Watkins takes blowtorch to Arkansas secondary with 3 first-half TD receptions
Jordan Watkins put on a dazzling 2nd-quarter show on Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville that left Arkansas’ poor defensive backs in tatters, and the worst news for the Razorbacks’ secondary is that the Ole Miss senior wide receiver still had a whole 2nd half to inflict more torture.
In a dizzying span of 2 minutes and 3 seconds, Watkins torched Arkansas for 2 touchdown catches of over 60 yards, which turned a 14-3 game into a 28-3 game with 10:07 left in the 2nd quarter.
First, it was a 62-yard hookup from quarterback Jaxson Dart to Watkins, who smelled blood with 1-on-1 coverage down the right sideline. Watkins made the nifty grab at about the Razorbacks’ 25-yard line and easily took it the rest of the way to give the Rebels a 21-3 lead with 12:10 left in the first half.
Always a 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 watching J Wat 🕺@jordantwatkins | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/noLpTLdEjC
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 2, 2024
After Watkins’ 1st touchdown grab, the worst thing possible happened for the Arkansas defense — the Razorbacks’ offense went 3-and-out, putting Dart and the high-octane Ole Miss offense right back on the field.
Not surprisingly, it only took Watkins and the Rebels 2 plays to strike again, and this time Dart connected with Watkins down the left sideline on a 66-yard TD pass with Watkins once again taking advantage of 1-on-1 coverage.
JAXSON DART TO JORDAN WATKINS AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/xqkGvfEErt
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) November 2, 2024
Two plays. Two long touchdown catches. And way too much for the Arkansas defense to handle in the 2nd quarter.
Fittingly, Watkins added 3 more catches on the Rebels’ last drive of the 1st half and finished off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown catch with 5 seconds left. Watkins had an eye-popping 5 catches for 172 yards in the 1st half and those 3 2nd-quater touchdowns as the Rebels sprinted to the locker room with a commanding 35-10 lead in the crucial SEC battle.