Tay Lockett had sights set on Arkansas from first visit
The Conway Wampus Cats added another layer to their already stacked roster on Monday with the addition of 2026 Arkansas commit Tay Lockett, a three-star defensive back who transferred in from San Diego University City (Calif.) to play his senior season.
Along with competing for a squad that has made a handful of deep playoff runs in recent memory, Lockett be mentored by one of Arkansas’ all-time great prep coaches Buck James, who has six state championships on his resume.
“It was a great experience getting to meet new teammates and coaches and being in a new city and new state,” Lockett told HawgBeat. “I am just really excited and hopefully I am going to be able to bring some Cali Swag to some of my teammates.
“At the end of the day, it is just about winning ball games.”
Lockett, 6-foot, 185-pounds, is rated as the 66th-best safety in the country by the Rivals Industry Ranking and was the first commitment for the Hogs’ 2026 class as a sophomore in 2023. Along with the Razorbacks, his long offer list includes the likes of Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Southern California and Washington, among others.
Lockett’s plan is to enroll early at Arkansas once his fall semester at Conway is complete.
ALSO READ: Arkansas 2026 commit announces transfer to in-state high school
Despite looking around, Tay Lockett always had heart set on Hogs
Rumors began to circulate in the earlier part of summer that Lockett could retract his pledge to Arkansas in favor of possibly UCLA, Oregon, or Texas A&M, but his heart was always set on being a Razorback.
“To be honest, my option never really was to open (my recruitment),” Lockett said. “The first time I came to Fayetteville after my freshman year I was like ‘oh yeah, this is where I am going to school’.
“There was no doubt in my mind that the relationships with Coach (Marcus) Woodson, Coach T-Will, Coach Pittman. Everybody in the building are amazing people, I knew right then and there as long as they are staying here that is where I am going to go.”
Lockett let his decision to move east publicly known via a nearly two-minute video that included a flashback of him calling the Hogs at a very young age.
“Even being in Cali, every time we would turn on the TV growing up we would see SEC football being played on Saturdays so that was always a dream for me to be able to play in front of my whole family in Arkansas,” Lockett said. “This is everything I wanted.”
Though he has grown up in California, Lockett has a plethora of family in The Natural State that he has visited throughout his life.
“I am not going lie, I have so much family out here.” he said. “I have grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, I got the whole package.”
Showdown versus future Arkansas teammates – and family
When Conway makes the trip to northwest Arkansas to face Bentonville on Sept. 5, Lockett will be lined up on the opposite side of future Razorback teammates Blair Irvin and Dequane Prevo. It will also be a rematch of last year’s 7A state semifinal round, which the Tigers kicked a last-second field goal to escape the Wampus Cats 36-34.
Coincidentally, Irvin is one of the family members Lockett previously referred to who lives in Arkansas as the two are cousins and previously competed against one another.
“We used to play against each other in 7-on-7,” Lockett said. “The last time we played was in Florida about a year ago. We’re going to be against each other in practice every day when we get to Fayetteville so it will be a cool experience.”
Like Lockett, Prevo made the move to Arkansas early as he left Liberty-Eylau (Texas) in June to play for the Tigers. Prevo committed to Arkansas last November.
“I do not think they have seen too many DB’s like me, but we are just going to see” Lockett said.
Lockett is coming off of a Defensive Player of the Year junior campaign and has logged over 240 tackles, batted down 17 passes, nabbed 14 interceptions, plus forced five fumbles and recovered six in his prep career. Additionally, he was utilized on offense last fall and it was a smart decision as he compiled over 500 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns for the Centurions.
It is still too early to tell, but there is plenty of early interest to get Lockett involved in Conway’s offensive game plan when the timing lines up.
“Coach James told me as much of the playbook I can pick up is whenever they will be able to move me around and come in on offense,” Lockett said.
Arkansas 2026 Commitments
• 4-star OL Bryce Gilmore, Prosper (Texas), 6-4, 270 pounds
• 4-star EDGE Colton Yarbrough, Durant (Okla.), 6-5, 210 pounds
• 4-star WR Dequane Prevo, Bentonville, 5-9, 160 pounds
• 4-star LB JJ Bush, Theodore (Ala.), 6-3, 205 pounds
• 3-star TE Jaivion Martin, Pflugerville (Texas), 6-4, 250 pounds
• 3-star WR Keymian Henderson, Carthage (Texas), 6-4, 185 pounds
• 3-star CB Victor Lincoln, Lancaster (Texas), 6-0, 160 pounds
• 3-star S Adam Auston, MacArthur (Okla.), 6-2, 200 pounds
• 3-star S Tay Lockett, Conway, 6-0, 165 pounds
• 3-star S Keivay Foster, Muscle Shoals (Ala.), 6-4, 182 pounds
• 3-star S Daylen Green, Gadsden County (Fla.), 6-2, 185 pounds
• 3-star OL Ari Slocum, Union Parish (La.), 6-3, 280 pounds
• 3-star QB Jayvon Gilmore, Gaffney (S.C.), 6-6, 195 pounds
• 3-star LB Caleb Gordon, Ashbrook (N.C.), 6-0, 215 pounds
• 3-star CB Jalon Copeland, Valdosta (Ga.), 5-10.5, 175 pounds
• 3-star OL Tucker Young, Hot Springs Lakeside, 6-4, 300 pounds
• 3-star OL Hugh Smith, Ridge Point (Texas), 6-5, 275 pounds
• 3-star DL Cameron McGee, Grayson (Ga.), 6-4, 315 pounds
• 3-star TE Kade Bush, Chanhassen (Minn.), 6-4, 205 pounds
• 3-star S Kyndrick Williams, Fayetteville, 6-1, 185 pounds
• 3-star WR Robert Haynes, Ridge Point (Texas), 6-1, 170 pounds
• 3-star OL Ben Mubenga, Buford (Ga.), 6-5, 275 pounds
• 3-star DL Carnell Jackson, Auburn (Ala.), 6-2, 315 pounds
• 3-star WR Blair Irvin, Bentonville, 6-1, 175 pounds
• 3-star OL Ashley Walker, Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.), 6-7, 290 pounds
• DL Ashton Dawson, Evangel Christian (La.), 6-2, 285 pounds
• RB Jordan Avinger, Orangeburg-Wilkinson (S.C.), 6-3, 225 pounds
