Jeremy Watkins enters his first season as defensive line coach at Tennessee State University, bringing extensive experience across the collegiate and professional levels, including his most recent role as defensive line coach for the DC Defenders of the UFL (2024). He has also held coaching positions at Virginia State University and Alderson Broaddus University, along with a long track record of developing collegiate talent at the high school level.
Watkins began his collegiate coaching career at Alderson Broaddus in 2019 during the program’s inaugural spring football season, serving as defensive line coach. In that season, he guided two defensive linemen to All-Conference and All-Freshman Team honors.
Prior to Alderson Broaddus, Watkins spent 10 years coaching high school football in Alabama. He most recently served as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Jeff Davis High School in Montgomery, where he helped develop multiple collegiate signees and built a reputation for producing disciplined and fundamentally sound defensive fronts.
Watkins also gained collegiate coaching experience at Virginia State University, further strengthening his development and impact at the defensive line position.
As a student-athlete, Watkins played at Alabama State University from 2002–2004, where he earned All-SWAC recognition and helped lead the program to a SWAC East Division Championship in 2003 and a SWAC Championship in 2004. He was a two-time letterwinner during his collegiate career.
Watkins earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Alabama State University in 2006.
A native of Los Angeles, California, Watkins is married to DaShonda, and the couple has two sons, Weston Alford-Watkins and Winston Alford-Watkins. He is also a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
