Texas A&M gained one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 cycle on Thursday after four-star linebacker Jordan Lockhart out of Bellflower, California, and the prestigious St. John Bosco program committed to the Maroon and White over the likes of USC and Alabama.
As many of you probably know, St. John Bosco’s is loaded with four and five-star prospects, and Jordan Lockhart was the most productive defensive player by far in 2022. Joining three-star LB Tristan Jernigan, Jimbo Fisher’s streak of missing on elite linebacker talent may have finally ended after Lockhart’s pledge.
Now, what are the Aggies getting Jordan Lockhart as a future contributor in defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin’s system? First, he’s highly physical and relentless in his pursuit, consistently “sorting through trash” to reach his target while possessing sideline-to-sideline ability in coverage, which aids in eliminating counters and screens. Keeping his attention on cadence and line changes pre-snap, Lockharts’ instincts lead him right to the susceptible gap to make a play in the backfield, recording five sacks during his 2022 junior season.
Standing at 6-3 and 230 pounds, taking on size is never an issue, but against bigger offensive linemen, Lockhart’s hand use and quick feet constantly keep him in a great position to make a play on the ball while leveraging his strength and speed. With the ability to thrive in coverage while utilizing his size as a pass rusher, Durkin’s 4-2-5 scheme will provide Lockhart the opportunity to play inside and rush the passer in what would probably be a 60-40, 70-30 split in his first season with the program.
Lockhart is a gifted athlete who plays with high energy on passion on every snap, and no matter how Texas A&M uses him in 2024 and beyond, Jimbo Fisher and company landed a true star in the making.
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