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Among freshmen, most of the attention at UM’s fall practice has centered on tailback Duke Johnson and cornerback Tracy Howard.
But Robert Lockhart Jr., a first-year receiver by way of West Boca Raton High, is also making his mark with his leaping catches over UM’s defensive backs.
Robert Lockhart
“He’s a very athletic player,” tight end Asante Cleveland said. “He’s like 6-1, but he can jump like a big man. He’s real aggressive going after the ball. One-on-one against the DBs, he just goes right over them to make the play. You don’t think he should be able to catch that ball and he makes a play.”
Making plays is exactly what UM coaches are looking for from a talented but highly-inexperienced group of receivers. With the departure of leading receiver Tommy Streeter as well as Travis Benjamin and LaRon Byrd, the only returning wideout to register more than 15 receptions last season is Allen Hurns, who had 31 catches for 415 yards. The other wide receivers on the roster combined for 18 receptions last season.
Enter Lockhart, who signed to play at Virginia Tech but was forced to attend Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy last year to work on his academics. The Hokies were willing to wait for Lockhart but UM coach Al Golden swooped in and stole the lanky 6-1, 188-pound Delray Beach native away from Virginia Tech.
Lockhart has been at UM since June, participating in voluntary workouts before fall practice began on Aug. 3.
“Robert has done a really good job,” receivers coach George McDonald said. “He has real good hands which is what we thought when we evaluated him. He works really hard and is very competitive. He’s shown us the reason we tried to get him here and worked so hard to get him here.”
Golden and his staff signed five receivers in February, but Lockhart may have a step on the competition because of his ability to go up high and come down with the ball. If nothing else, expect Lockhart to get plenty of action this season on fade routes and alley-oops in the end zone.
Said tight end Clive Walford: “Robert, he goes up and gets the ball. He has a high vertical. One-on-one, fade route, he’s going to catch it.”
UM coaches knew all about Lockhart’s leaping ability. What has surprised them is Lockhart’s speed.
“He’s faster than we thought he would be,” Golden said. “We knew he had a great vertical and ball skills, that’s what attracted us to him. But he’s faster than we thought.”
UM prohibits freshmen from speaking to the media until they play in the game. Just as well for Lockhart, whom teammates say is extremely quiet.
“Real quiet,” Cleveland emphasizes. “He keeps to himself for the most part. But he plays pretty big on the field. Quiet guys are dangerous.”
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/cane...obert-lockhart-quite-the-catch-for-hurricanes
Among freshmen, most of the attention at UM’s fall practice has centered on tailback Duke Johnson and cornerback Tracy Howard.
But Robert Lockhart Jr., a first-year receiver by way of West Boca Raton High, is also making his mark with his leaping catches over UM’s defensive backs.
Robert Lockhart
“He’s a very athletic player,” tight end Asante Cleveland said. “He’s like 6-1, but he can jump like a big man. He’s real aggressive going after the ball. One-on-one against the DBs, he just goes right over them to make the play. You don’t think he should be able to catch that ball and he makes a play.”
Making plays is exactly what UM coaches are looking for from a talented but highly-inexperienced group of receivers. With the departure of leading receiver Tommy Streeter as well as Travis Benjamin and LaRon Byrd, the only returning wideout to register more than 15 receptions last season is Allen Hurns, who had 31 catches for 415 yards. The other wide receivers on the roster combined for 18 receptions last season.
Enter Lockhart, who signed to play at Virginia Tech but was forced to attend Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy last year to work on his academics. The Hokies were willing to wait for Lockhart but UM coach Al Golden swooped in and stole the lanky 6-1, 188-pound Delray Beach native away from Virginia Tech.
Lockhart has been at UM since June, participating in voluntary workouts before fall practice began on Aug. 3.
“Robert has done a really good job,” receivers coach George McDonald said. “He has real good hands which is what we thought when we evaluated him. He works really hard and is very competitive. He’s shown us the reason we tried to get him here and worked so hard to get him here.”
Golden and his staff signed five receivers in February, but Lockhart may have a step on the competition because of his ability to go up high and come down with the ball. If nothing else, expect Lockhart to get plenty of action this season on fade routes and alley-oops in the end zone.
Said tight end Clive Walford: “Robert, he goes up and gets the ball. He has a high vertical. One-on-one, fade route, he’s going to catch it.”
UM coaches knew all about Lockhart’s leaping ability. What has surprised them is Lockhart’s speed.
“He’s faster than we thought he would be,” Golden said. “We knew he had a great vertical and ball skills, that’s what attracted us to him. But he’s faster than we thought.”
UM prohibits freshmen from speaking to the media until they play in the game. Just as well for Lockhart, whom teammates say is extremely quiet.
“Real quiet,” Cleveland emphasizes. “He keeps to himself for the most part. But he plays pretty big on the field. Quiet guys are dangerous.”
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/cane...obert-lockhart-quite-the-catch-for-hurricanes
