RECRUIT SCOOP: Four-Star RB from Louisiana lands softly in Eagles' nest

Ahmonte Watkins wanted to see how he would stack up against Texas track competition.

In a twist of fate, he moved from Riverside Academy in Reserve, Louisiana in January to live with his mom and sister, who live in the Klein Forest High School zone.

The Golden Eagles won Class 6A state a year ago.

"When I got here, I really wanted more competition on the track side," he said. "I hit a PR (personal record) in the 200-meters the week before the virus hit. We were really going to be good as a team."

While he wanted to test himself on the oval, the real test will come on the football field next year. The 5-foot-10, move-in running back is a four-star recruit for newly-hired head coach Johnathan Wilson.

Talk about timing for Wilson, who was hired to lift the Eagle football team to new heights. Klein Forest has not been to the postseason in 10 years.

"Growing up, my favorite player was Cam Newton," he said. "I loved the Carolina Panthers and of course Alabama. I try and pattern my game after Christian McCaffrey. I can catch the ball out of the backfield, run between the tackles and bounce it outside."

Ranked in the Top 20 running backs in the nation, Watkins still has some work to do and is open to the recruiting process.

"I'm going to hit some college camps this summer," he said. "I'm also going to be working on my lateral movement. I'm looking at a lot of schools and I'd like to make a decision before the first game of the season."

He currently has offers from Miami, Colorado, Houston, Virginia, Utah and West Virginia just to name a few.

Outside of sports, Watkins plays Fortnite and is a talented artist.

"What is something people don't know about me?" he said. "I'm more than just an athlete. I'm also an artist. I love to draw custom pictures, just random stuff. Whatever just inspires me at the moment."

Watkins' arrival is a pleasant surprise for the north Houston school trying to create a new identity.

Wouldn't that be a pretty picture?