Jackson State quarterback Jared Lockhart struggled to find a real-world analogy for wide receiver Nate Rembert’s explosive performance in the Tigers’ home opener.
Rembert finished with a career-high 179 receiving yards on four catches — all exceeding 20 yards, with three going for more than 50 — in JSU’s 66-14 victory over Division II Edward Waters at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on September 5.
“He’s like a video game,” Lockhart said of Rembert. “Like NCAA. It’s a blessing to have him.”
The night held added significance for Rembert beyond the stat line. His NCAA journey began at EWU in 2023.
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
J’Cori Hargon of the Jackson State football team takes a selfie with fan Lillian Brooks during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
J’Cori Hargon of the Jackson State football team takes a selfie with fan Lillian Brooks during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
The women’s cheerleading squad performs during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Michael Johnson Jr. of the Jackson State football team signs a team poster for a fan during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Carmelo Jones, center, of the Jackson State football team high-fives a young fan before signing team posters during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
The Baby Tigers squad performs during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
A student fan poses with Jackson State mascot Sonny Thee Tiger during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
The women’s cheerleading squad performs during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Jackson State University president Denise Jones Gregory poses with members of the women’s soccer team during the JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Members of the Jackson State University women’s soccer team applaud fellow athletes during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Fans of the Jackson State football team receive signed 2026 team posters during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
The Baby Tigers squad performs during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Members of the Jackson State football team sign team posters for fans during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Jaden Lockhart of the Jackson State football team signs a team poster for a fan during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Cyson Burk of the Jackson State football team poses with his father, Curwin Burk, during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Jackson State football player Kazarius Bowie has a women’s volleyball team poster signed by fellow student-athletes during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Jared Lockhart, center, and Nate Rembert, right, of the Jackson State football team speak with a fan during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Kim Sallis, center, of the Jackson State football team participates in the JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
J’Cori Hargon of the Jackson State football team poses with a fan during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Members of the Jackson State University’s women’s volleyball team watch fellow athletes during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Nate Blount IV of the Jackson State football team speaks with a fan during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Jackson State football player Kazarius Bowie participates in the JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Duke Clayton of the Jackson State football team speaks with a fan during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Members of the Jackson State cross-country team sign team posters during JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Jared Lockhart of the Jackson State football team participates in the JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Fans attend JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
Tiger fans met the new Jackson State football team at Bleed Thee Blue Fall Fan Fest
Fans attend JSU Fall Fan Fest at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 16, 2026.
(Sarah Warnock/Special to the Clarion Ledger)
As a freshman at EWU, Rembert led the team in receiving touchdowns and finished second in receiving yards, earning All-SIAC first-team honors. That foundation propelled his Jackson State career, which already includes two All-SWAC selections.
“It was a blessing to be out here, honestly,” Rembert said. “I went there in 2023, my freshman year, and my last year, to be able to play against them, it’s just a blessing.”
Rembert secured eligibility for the 2026 season through a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against the NCAA. Though he graduated high school in 2021, he didn’t begin NCAA competition until 2023. The NCAA had argued that his time away from football while attending a community college should erode his eligibility clock.
The fifth-year senior made that extra year count against his former team, leading JSU in receiving yards and producing several highlight-reel plays. His long receptions featured deft jukes and explosive speed bursts — 119 of his 179 yards came after the catch.
One third-quarter play drew a Reggie Bush comparison at the postgame press conference. Rembert caught the pass on the left sideline, reversed direction, ran backward several yards behind the line of scrimmage, then found a 24-yard gain to cross midfield.
“I just seen a whole bunch of their guys setting the edge,” Rembert said. “… Now, I wanted to cut, but I’m like, forget it. I’m just going to make something happen. And then when I almost stumbled, I was like, I can’t fall because then I’m going to get cussed out. I’m just glad I got the first down and got some yardage on it and make do what I could make do.”
