University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

J.W. Lockett was a fabulous athlete during his time at Central in the late 1950s, lettering three years in basketball and track and four in football.  The school’s Freshman Athlete of the Year in 1957-58, Lockett’s greatest success came on the gridiron where he was a four-year starter for the Bronchos.

The versatile Lockett played guard and center as a freshman before becoming a two-way star at tight end and defensive end his last three years.  He was a two-time All-Oklahoma Collegiate Conference pick and a two-time NAIA All-American, earning honorable mentions honors in 1958 and first-team accolades in 1959.

Lockett, who played minor league baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system before coming to UCO, signed as a free agent with Dallas in 1961.  He went on to play four years in the NFL with four different teams, seeing action as a running back and tight end.