Ty Lockwood looking to become next great Alabama TE
THOMPSON’S STATION, Tenn. (BVM) – At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Ty Lockwood looks like your prototypical tight end. After transferring to Independence High School his sophomore year, Lockwood was quick to show that his size wasn’t the only thing that could translate to the high school football field.
“When you look at Ty, he looks like you’re supposed to look to be a big–time tight end,” first-year Independence head coach Scott Stidham said. “Watching him when we had voluntary workouts… you learned real quickly what makes him special. His catch radius, if it’s anywhere near him, he finds a way to catch it. He’s pretty special.”
The Eagles star put his pass–catching repertoire on full display in his opening season with the team, racking up 43 receptions for 606 yards and three touchdowns during Independence’s 7-3 campaign. The transition to a new state and school would come with more familiarity in 2021, but not quite the same receiving marks. As Lockwood and the Eagles battled to a 4-7 record, the then-junior tight end would finish with 462 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Behind a strong offseason and a new offensive role, Lockwood seems primed to hit his stride during his senior campaign. After being used primarily out of the slot his first two seasons with the team, the Eagles are hopeful they can help unlock Lockwood by playing more as an in-line tight end this season. As he prepares to play at the next level, getting more experience blocking this fall is something he and the coaching staff have continued to put a focus on.
“We’re going to move him around but we’re going to really allow him to play tight end,” Stidham said. “He knows he has to improve as a blocker and that’s something we emphasized this spring with him and we’ll continue to as soon as he gets back healthy with us this fall. To play at that level, that’s what’s got to separate him. He’s got to be a big-time blocker. He goes from blocking high school boys, to blocking SEC men.”
This past summer, Lockwood switched his commitment from Ohio State to Alabama after a visit down to Tuscaloosa. Following nearly a year as a Buckeye commit, Lockwood would decide to make the tough decision to go where he felt gave him his best opportunity. With his commitment in early August, the No. 9 tight end in the nation, according to 247Sports, joined the top–ranked recruiting class for 2023.
“We’re excited for him that he feels comfortable to be in the [Alabama] program,” Stidham said. “You’re playing for the best coach ever. It’s going to be a challenge for him but also an unbelievable opportunity.”
Entering the 2022 football season with his commitment now behind him, Lockwood is focused on ending his high school career strong. While his coach points out that some players might lose focus when they receive collegiate offers, Lockwood’s work ethic has made that a non-issue. After coming into high school predominantly as a basketball player, the Independence star has worked his way into becoming one of the country’s top tight ends on the football field.
“His ceiling is really high because he’s still learning this thing,” Stidham said. He’s going to improve physically, his route running continues to improve, and he understands all the little things he needs to do.
“He’s a high character kid with integrity and that allows him to show what he has because he is so coachable… he shows up everyday to work and when you do that, with the ability he’s been given, his future [looks] really bright.”
The senior tight end is slated to make his first start of the 2022 season in the near future after getting his appendix removed recently. When he does return, Lockwood will likely find his name atop opposing scouting reports in what should be a competitive 6A class. With the hopes of outpacing last year’s results, the Eagles standout is focused on bringing Independence back to their winning ways.
“When you’re going to Alabama, around here, that means a lot,” Stidham said when asked about the game-planning opposing teams might use. “He’s definitely going to get everybody’s attention for sure.”
