Trio of SEC programs pursuing On3 four-star linebacker Tyler Lockhart

Winona High School’s Tyler Lockhart and his teammates experienced the perfect season last year with an undefeated record en route to the Class 3A state championship. And naturally, the 2025 linebacker and On3 four-star prospect had a lot to do with that success.

Lockhart finished his junior season with 100 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 11 sacks to pace the Tigers’ defensive attack. This season Lockhart is looking for more of the same and has kept his normal offseason routine.

“We’ve been out there practicing for awhile now,” Lockhart remarked. “And we started in full pads on August 1st. They just have me at linebacker and I’m outside. I got to wait to see how much I’ve improved when we play our first game. But I’ve been keeping everything the same and working on the same stuff.”

Lockhart owns numerous SEC offers and is rated as the nation’s No. 16 linebacker and the state’s No. 7 prospect by On3. He initially committed to Auburn in May but ended up backing off that decision in late June.

“I just felt like I needed to make that decision,” noted the 6-foot-1.5 and 205-pound Lockhart. “I just want to see what is best for me so I decommitted. Since then I’d say State, Auburn and Ole Miss are on me the hardest.”

Also this summer, Lockhart took official visits to Auburn and Mississippi State, and he decommitted from Auburn days after his visit to Starkville. Late July saw Lockhart make return trips to that trio of SEC programs and he is unsure about taking any official visits in the fall.

“I went to State last month and then I went to Ole Miss and Auburn last month, too,” Lockhart recalled. “I don’t think I’m going to take any other official visits but I might end up doing that. This season, though, I’m going to see games at State, Auburn, Tennessee and Ole Miss.”

Lockhart has been a longtime target for Mississippi State’s staff and his recruitment has spanned over two Bulldog coaching staff. He noted of his thoughts on head coach Jeff Lebby and defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler.

“Coach Lebby was telling me some of the same things the other coaches there have been saying,” Lockhart added. “He wants me there and I have a good time around him and his coaches. He always has the same message for me. He always tells me he wants me to come there and lead from the front. It’s been the same with Coach Hutzler, too, and he’s been recruiting me hard.”

With this summer’s decommitment, Lockhart had previously noted that his next decision could come before his senior season kicks off at Winona High School. But now it seems he wants to take some more time before making his next move on the recruiting trail.

“I may not make another decision until signing day but it may be sooner than that when I decide,” Lockhart mentioned. “But I don’t have a set timeframe and I’m just playing it as it comes. In the end I just want to do what is best for me and my mom.”

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