Watkins attended Provine High School, receiving All-district, All-metro and second-team All-state honors as a senior, after registering 14 receptions for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns.
As a sophomore, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery near mid-season, which limited his playing time at tight end, although he was active in every contest and started 3 games.
Against the University of South Carolina, he made a key block that dropped two defenders during a one-yard touchdown run in a 23–0 win.
[4] Watkins was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (59th overall) of the 1995 NFL draft, to be the team's blocking tight end and help improve the running production.
[11] The team ended up trading him back to the Dallas Cowboys during the preseason, in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (not exercised).