​Jackson State football quarterback Jared Lockhart is getting ready for his first season opener as the Tigers’ starter.Lockhart played in seven games last season as a freshman, making five starts, to fill in for JaCobian Morgan, who suffered a left foot injury midseason.Now Lockhart is the team’s starter for a full season, beginning with the first game against Tennessee State at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville on Aug. 29 (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+).”With him being able to play those meaningful snaps last year, he knows what the speed of the game is like,” Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor said. “It was up to us to just get the right pieces around him. … I’m very excited about what he’s going to bring to the table this year.”Lockhart finished last season with 1,187 passing yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions on a 67.3% completion rate. He also rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns. He won SWAC co-freshman of the Year.As the Tigers’ full-time starter, he’s projected to have another strong season, making the preseason All-SWAC second team. Taylor commended Lockhart for taking the initiative this offseason to prepare himself physically and mentally for his second season of college football.”He’s still got a lot of growing to do, and he grew over the summer and in training camp,” Taylor said. “He’s added muscle. It looks like he’s gotten taller, gotten smarter as a football player. I see a more calming demeanor about him on the football field now too, as well. So, that’s just him learning the system, getting comfortable with the system.”To help Lockhart take the next step, Taylor and his staff brought in a number of offensive additions who are expected to play a key role. Taylor specifically mentioned offensive line transfers Jaekwon Bouldin and Melvin Collins Jr., who he said will start at left tackle and left guard, respectively.Overall, Taylor noted that Lockhart has earned the trust of the team heading into the season.”The guys looks to him now to make plays,” Taylor said. “They look to him as the leader out there on the offensive side of the football, and that was critical for him growing this summer, and he showed a lot of maturity. … The receivers trust him, the o-line trusts him, the running backs trust him, we trust him as coaches, so we go as he goes.”Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Jackson State coach TC Taylor evaluated QB Jared Lockhart before opener