The Winona High School football duo of T.J. Lockhart and Fred Clark have made verbal commitments to Southeastern Conference schools.
Lockhart, a 6-foot-6, 365-pound offensive lineman, announced Sunday that he has committed to Mississippi State University. Clark, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, announced in early March that he was committing to Ole Miss.
“We are very proud of these two guys,” said Winona head coach Joey Tompkins. “This is big not only for T.J. and Fred but also for our program. They are both fine young men who represent themselves well on the field and in the classroom.
“You notice kids at an early age who have the size and ability. We saw these two in junior high, and I knew then they had what it takes to play on the next level. TJ is an A student in the classroom, and Fred does well in the classroom and has shown great athletic ability on the field.”
Lockhart made his decision public on his birthday (March 12).
“This is very special to me,” said Lockhart. “When I told the coaches, they were really happy for me to commit. Coach (Zach) Arnett and Coach (Will) Friend welcomed me, and all of the coaches were excited. I thought it would be cool to commit on my birthday, and that’s a good day.”
Lockhart, who played left tackle as a junior for the Tigers, also held offers from Arkansas State and Louisiana. His play at left tackle is what college coaches noticed.
“I had a good year at left tackle, and that was the only spot I played,” said Lockhart. “I was physical, and I handled the pass rush better than I did my sophomore year. My run blocking was better, too.”
Clark is considered the No. 78 linebacker in the nation and the No. 26 player in the state of Mississippi’s 2024 class, according to 247Sports. He also had offers from Mississippi State, Memphis, Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Tulane, UNLV and Jackson State.
“It was really important for me to stay close to home for my family and do what I love doing,” Clark said.
