Perseverance

by Nicholas Humble

November 10, 2009 - At 17-years-old, standing 6’2” and weighing 200 pounds, Orlan Lockhart III, a quarterback for Sam Houston High, looks to Drew Brees as a football model and a quarterback he can relate to physically. “Like him, I am kinda an undersized quarterback,” Lockhart said.

Lockhart’s favorite stadium to showcase his exceptional quarterback play is his home field. “It’s usually pretty full, and we always have a real good student section show up.”

Instead of committing early to a college, Lockhart is weighing his options and is looking to go to a school where he fits in well. “It depends on where I fit best and where I am comfortable,” Lockhart said. “I want to go somewhere I am wanted and somewhere I will fit in with what they want to do.”

His favorite NFL team, like many in the state of Louisiana right now, is the New Orleans Saints. “I’m afraid to jump on the bandwagon, but they are doing good this year, and it’s fun watching Drew Brees tear it up.”

Lockhart has been playing quarterback since he was 8-years-old, and it seems that is the position he was meant to play. “I played quarterback all the way until middle school, and then they tried putting me at defensive end. I got back to high school and started playing it full time again.”

Through nine games this year, Lockhart has thrown for 1,480 yards and 7 touchdown passes. He has almost 600 yards rushing and 19 rushing touchdowns, and has 2,070 yards of total offense.

His goals for 2009 are to repeat goals he has accomplished before. “I want to make All-District and All-District MVP again, make All-Southwest again and try to get All-State again.” As for team goals, he wants to get into the playoffs and see how far he can take his team.

Football skills run in his family as his father, Orlan Lockhart Jr., played wide receiver and tight end for Southeastern and Northwestern State.

Lockhart enjoys the feelings that football brings, and the never give up mentality. “The passion of the game, and the fight to the end every time,” Lockhart said. “Laying everything you have against everything they have and seeing who comes out on top.”

The best game that Lockhart has played in so far has been a game this year where he scored the winning points. “The Westlake game this year because they are our rivals, and it was a good game,” Lockhart said. “It went down to the last quarter and the last drive with only a few minutes left on the clock, and we drove down the field and scored.”

Lockhart looks up to his parents for guidance. “They are good people and do the right things. They are still a lot smarter than me; I have a lot to learn.” In football; however, Lockhart looks up to two veteran quarterbacks. “I really like Drew Brees, but I just like watching how much fun Brett Favre has playing the game.”

Lockhart’s best quality and one thing he will bring with him wherever he goes will be his perseverance. “I never give up,” Lockhart said. “You never lose, you just run out of time.”