Jackson State football sixth-year wide receiver Jaden Lockhart is suing the NCAA to be eligible for the 2026 season.
Lockhart is the older brother of JSU sophomore quarterback Jared Lockhart.
Jaden Lockhart filed his suit against the NCAA in the Hinds Chancery Court on Aug. 7. He did so while waiting on a decision from the NCAA on the appeal of his waiver denial. His waiver was denied by the NCAA on April 4, according to legal documents obtained by the Clarion Ledger.
Lockhart is seeking a temporary restraining order followed by a preliminary injunction.
This is the second lawsuit filed by a Jackson State player ahead of the 2026 season. Wide receiver Nate Rembert received a preliminary injunction for a similar suit on Aug. 19, allowing him to play in 2026.
Jackson State did not respond to a request for comment.
Jaden Lockhart’s argument vs the NCAA
Lockhart graduated from high school in 2021 and went on to play two seasons at Division II Catawba College. He transferred to Division II Johnson C. Smith for the 2023 season.
In his third game of the 2023 season, Lockhart sustained a shoulder injury that prevented him from practicing or playing the rest of the season. JCSU told Lockhart it would submit a medical hardship waiver on his behalf, but that process was delayed until April 2024.
Lockhart believed he needed the decision on his waiver in order to be able to enter the transfer portal. However, while his waiver was still pending, he entered the portal and enrolled at Arkansas where he attempted to be a walk-on.
Lockhart’s medical hardship waiver was accepted on April 10, 2025, but due to the timing, he elected to stay at Arkansas to finish his degree.
Lockhart argues that because of the delay in filing and receiving approval of his medical hardship waiver, he was denied two opportunities to participate in college football.
In the waiver request JSU submitted on Lockhart’s behalf, it is stated that Lockhart used a redshirt in 2024.
The NCAA’s reasoning for denying Lockhart’s waiver because the NCAA deemed that Lockhart did have the opportunity to participate in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to being enrolled at a school with a football team.
In two season at Catawba, Lockhart played in 16 games, totaling 27 receptions for 410 yards. At JCSU, he had four receptions for 38 yards and a touchdowns in three games.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
