Pac-12 school offers Ohio back

Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller running back Keith Watkins has been collecting scholarship offers steadily over the last couple months, but his most recent addition is his first from the Pac-12 Conference.

"Arizona State [offered] today," Watkins reported. "One of the coaches wrote me over Facebook and said they watched my highlight and wanted me to give them a call. So, I called them Tuesday and talked to them. I guess they called my coach and talked to him [Thursday]. He texted me and told me to call them again and that's when they offered me."

The process of researching Arizona State as a football program and University is about to start for Watkins, but he does already have a familiarity with the campus' location.

"I play basketball as well and we went to Arizona two years ago for a Christmas tournament," Watkins said. "In Cincinnati it was snowing and down there it was sunny and we were at the beach. I loved the weather down there."

The offer from Arizona State brings Watkins to a total of 12. An offer from the Kansas Jayhawks immediately preceded the Arizona State offer, and came in last week.

"I talked to Coach [Charlie] Weis when they offered me," Watkins said. "When he called me I let my dad listen to it and my dad was really excited because he was a fan of his when he was at Notre Dame. He was telling me all his accomplishments through his career.

"It was just a pleasure to hear everything he was saying. He said don't look at Kansas over the last few years because he's the new guy in town and if I come to that school I will be under him and everything will be brand new."

Watkins has not had a chance to visit Kansas, but will consider them for a summer visit. He is also looking to get out to Penn State this summer to attend a camp.

"Penn State is starting to recruit me now as well," Watkins said. "Their coach came in Tuesday and watched me run. [Moller] Coach [John] Rodenberg told me they want me to come out to the camp and play DB for them so I could show them my footwork. The coach will likely be back down to see me again."

This spring, Watkins did make it out to practices or games at West Virginia, Cincinnati, Michigan State and Kentucky. He is not listing any leaders or favorites, but has seen enough of several schools to know they will be in contention for his services.

"I know Kentucky, UC, West Virginia and Northwestern will be [contenders]," Watkins said. "Iowa - my coach has been telling me they are very interested and strongly trying to recruit me."

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Watkins rushed for over 700 yards and totaled 450 kick return yards with 22 total touchdowns as a junior.