Latest Update: NC State Football Makes Another Tantalizing Recruitment Move

The NC State football recruiting team is competing against Nebraska and several others for the heralded tight end.

Just a few weeks after receiving an offer to play football from NC State, Lincoln Watkins, a junior tight end from Port Huron Northern High School in Michigan, has arranged a visit to Raleigh and recently welcomed an NC State recruiter to his home.

On Wednesday morning, Watkins shared the news of the in-home visit on social media, posting a photo and expressing his gratitude to Gavin Locklear, the newly promoted tight ends coach at NC State and his primary recruiter, for traveling to Michigan to meet with him and his family.

So many blessings in this life, thank you
so much for coming up to spend time with my family and I coach. @CoachGLocklear
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–@StateCoachD @SMcCourt12 @PackFootball @RisingStars6 @FballPhn @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong_ @Birm @GregSmithRivals pic.twitter.com/DGZBsv2o1N

— Lincoln Watkins 4✰ (@LinkWatkins2026) January 22, 2025

Nebraska’s tight ends coach, Marcus Satterfield, also visited him this week.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 230 pounds, Watkins boasts an offer list that has grown to nearly 30 schools and is regarded as a top three-star prospect on most recruitment sites. He is currently ranked No. 386 overall, No. 20 among tight ends, and No. 7 in Michigan according to the 247Sports 2026 Composite rankings.

Last season, Lincoln Watkins excelled on both offense and defense, racking up 39 receptions for 668 yards, 39 carries for 245 yards, and scoring 17 touchdowns, while also making 42 tackles. Notably, he achieved a first down on 72 of his 78 touches.

Megatron like stuff on a weekly basis! 👀 https://t.co/15JZYvaQVn pic.twitter.com/My8EACMxdX

— CoachFletch (@fletch_09) October 5, 2024

NC State football head coach Dave Doeren and his staff are pleased to have secured two early commitments for the 2026 class: three-star offensive tackle Brady Sakowitz from Trinity Episcopal School in Virginia, and three-star quarterback Jacob Smith from Reagan High School in North Carolina.