PHILADELPHIA, PA — There has to be something special about a player when a major national collegiate powerhouse is willing to come across the country and recruit them. The Oregon Ducks went hard after La Salle star Joey O’Brien last spring, but failed to get him, when O’Brien committed to Notre Dame.
It did not deter Oregon from looking at prime Pennsylvania talent again—and this spring, the Ducks did land their man, St. Joe Prep’s Brandon Lockley, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound, three-year starting linebacker for the Hawks.
Lockley committed to Oregon in late-April, choosing the Big Ten school over Alabama, with Nebraska and Duke in the picture. Lockley embraced the opportunity to play there, and liked the fact Oregon graduates its players and it is rare a player transfers out of Oregon.
“Committing early made things a lot easier, knowing that I am settled down, I know where I am going and I can focus solely on my senior year,” said Lockley, a Glenolden, Delaware County resident. “Now my goal is to work as hard as I can to be the best I can, committing more time to my teammates and my team.”
Lockley, who carries a 3.3 GPA, was one of a few bright spots last year for the Hawks, who finished a highly uncharacteristic 5-5 last season, the worst finish for St. Joe’s Prep since legendary coach Gabe Infante’s first season in 2010, when the Hawks finished 4-7 overall.
Lockley led the Hawks in tackles last season with 65, always carrying a game-changing impact in each game he played. Lockley vowed this coming season will be different.
Last year was frustrating. The Hawks saw their threepeat as PIAA Class 6A champions stopped by a La Salle team for the ages, and their streak of nine-straight PIAA state champion game appearances snapped, which included nine-straight Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division titles.
“We hear it, whether we win or lose, so we have learned to keep the outside noise where it belongs, outside, because we always have high standards here and we have to be accountable. We didn’t meet those standards last year,” said Lockley, a first-team all-Catholic last year. “The first thing I want to do is my job and set a standard for my team, be a better leader and be consistent. I have to be held accountable, because I could have done more (last year).
“I should have been more accountable. Everything starts with the leaders. I’m one of them. We did not have the season we wanted. But I will tell you, we will be a better team this year, because we are working to fix what we did wrong last year.”
Committing to Oregon will help in that process.
“It will,” Lockley admitted. “There was some stress with the recruiting process. Overall, it was a blessing and a great experience. These were all great schools. My biggest problem was saying no to these coaches, because they committed the time to talk to me.”
At Oregon, Lockley is projected to be a linebacker. He is the weakside linebacker for the Hawks, with the speed to track down running backs from the back side, rush the passer and drop back into coverage. He is strong at the point of attack and was not afraid to speak up last year as a junior.
That role will be elevated even more this season as one of the Hawks’ 2026 go-to leaders. St. Joe’s Prep does not play each year to finish second or third in the Catholic League Red Division, just to make the playoffs, or to win Catholic League championships. Every year it is the same mantra: Win the state championship.
The Hawks lost twice in 2025 to La Salle, which did something possibly no other Pennsylvania team may ever accomplish in one season, beat St. Joe’s Prep and Pittsburgh area powerhouse Central Catholic twice in one season.
The Explorers were that talented.
It was not Lockley’s fault there was a drop off in 2025.
“Actually, it was, everyone was to blame and it’s why everyone coming back is working hard on fixing it, players and coaches alike,” Lockley said. “I’m not going to point a finger at someone else, knowing I could have played better. Everyone on this team feels the same way. I won two state championships. I want more. Everyone on this team wants more.
“We have the talent and coaching to do it. And I know I can speak up for everyone here, we are all coming into this season with a chip on our shoulders. We were so used to being the hunted. Now we are the hunters.
“I’m working every day to be better. I don’t care about winning two state championships. That’s past. Last season is in the back of our minds. It does not change our identity. We know who we are and the standards we hold ourselves to. We’ll be better.
“It starts with me. I could have done more.”
Lockley already has with his commitment to Oregon.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball.