From Youth Team to Rising Star: How Cam Newton's Mentorship is Shaping Jackson State's Jared Lockhart

Jared Lockhart’s path to becoming a standout quarterback at Jackson State started in an unexpected place: Cam Newton’s youth 7-on-7 team in Charlotte. What began as football training evolved into something much deeper. Newton didn’t just coach Lockhart on the field, he welcomed him into his home, shared hard-earned lessons about excellence and character, and modeled what it means to compete at the highest level. Years later, Lockhart credits that early mentorship as foundational to who he is today, both as a player and as a person.

The real test came during Lockhart’s senior year of high school when a knee injury threatened to derail everything. He’d been locked in with Syracuse, but suddenly that door seemed to close. Most schools would’ve moved on to the next prospect. Jackson State didn’t. The Tigers’coaching staff kept recruiting Lockhart, kept showing genuine belief in his future, and continued the conversation even while he was dealing with recovery in the hospital. That kind of consistent commitment spoke volumes about the program’s values and vision for Lockhart’s potential.

The results speak for themselves. In his freshman season at Jackson State, Lockhart appeared in seven games with five starts, completing 76 of 113 passes for 1,187 yards, 8 touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions. He earned SWAC co-Freshman of the Year honors and now heads into his sophomore season with the weight of expectations on his shoulders. But he’s not carrying that load alone. Cam Newton’s voice is still in his corner, former Jackson State starter Jacobian Morgan is helping him navigate leadership, and a program that proved its loyalty when it mattered is behind him. What’s your story with mentorship? Have you had someone who believed in you when the odds were stacked against you?