University of Miami coaches have decided not to redshirt receiver Robert Lockhart, a West Boca Raton High graduate who is expected to make his season debut against North Carolina on Saturday at Sun Life Stadium.
Lockhart, a freshman, has not played this season but coach Al Golden said Wednesday that “we’ve got a lot of football left, so we wanted to make sure we got him going.”
Lockhart, who spent last season at Fort Union (Va.) Military Academy, is listed on this week’s depth chart as a co-backup with senior Kendal Thompkins behind starter Phillip Dorsett. Lockhart impressed early in fall practice but was eventually passed by fellow freshmen Malcolm Lewis and Herb Waters. Lewis sustained a season-ending ankle injury against Georgia Tech.
“Clearly, Malcolm is down, we’re playing a lot of plays, we’re throwing more passes than we thought we would in August, so we need help,” Golden said.
According to Golden, Lockhart “has soft hands, can really open up his hips and follow the ball nicely, has an excellent vertical, so he’s good in terms of going up and getting it. He’s got a long way to go, but we’re excited about the future with him.”
• Defensive tackle Curtis Porter, who began fall practice as a starter but has been sidelined for two months after undergoing an appendectomy, practiced Wednesday. Golden said there is no timetable for when Porter will be able to play.
Correspondent Christopher Stock contributed to this story.
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