I first received an in-person scouting opportunity of Lockard during last April’s Back 2 Ballin 7v7 tournament at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The potential shined through and had me keeping an eye on how he did as a sophomore at Waverly-Shell Rock last fall. While he contributed on offense and defense, the sophomore really stood out on special teams. He averaged 21.4 yards on a team-high eight kick returns, an area of need after an injury at the position. Succeeding in that phase of the game tracks with Lockard’s skill set as a quick athlete able to do damage in space after creating it. I was reminded of that when watching him at this year’s Back 2 Ballin High. Lockard provided a vision of what he can be as a defensive back capable of sticking with receivers throughout routes. It stems from fluid movements and an ability to smoothly change directions. Those traits also could lead to success at receiver, which may be a path to the next level, depending on development.

Lockard stuck out to me when I watched him in action during the Back 2 Ballin 7-on-7 tournament this spring in Cedar Falls. He played fast and with a purpose on both sides of the ball. That followed a season of development on the freshman squad at Waverly-Shell Rock, a consistent contender and producer of college talent. Lockard flashed his potential during his ninth-grade highlight video. On it we see a student-athlete contributing in all three of the game’s phases. His speed and athleticism aid him as a receiver in getting open and making people miss. On defense, his fluid actions help Lockard cover and get to tackles. He looks natural on special teams, too.