Eastern Michigan Athletics
Terry Lockett, Jr. Selected to Don ‘The Deuce’
8/21/2025 6:50:00 PM | Football
The special jersey is earned annually by the team’s top senior pass catcher
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — There are numerous reasons for a player wanting to wear a certain number. The number might be 'lucky'. It may have been worn at every level of competition in his career. Or, it might hold a special significance that many might not know. Whatever the reason to request certain numbers, each selection is as unique as the player making the request.
For the Eastern Michigan University football program, there is one number that holds an even more special meaning. It is 'The Deuce'. Make no mistake: this jersey is special. It cannot be selected by a player through conventional means, such as requesting it through the equipment staff. Rather, the selection is made by a player through his actions on the field and off. He earns 'The Deuce' by demonstrating he possesses the integrity, character, and selflessness of EMU's football student-athletes and representatives strive to build within themselves.
For Eastern football, 'The Deuce', must be earned in remembrance of wide receiver Demarius Reed, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2013. Put back into circulation in 2017 with the blessing of Reed's family and former teammates, his number once again graces the field at Rynearson Stadium on the back of the squad's best senior pass catcher.
In a team meeting, held Thursday, Aug. 21, inside Rynearson Stadium, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced Terry Lockett Jr. (St. Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy/Michigan State) had earned the honor to wear the jersey emblazoned with the No. 2. The program's top returning receiver from 2024 earned 'The Deuce' one year after Oran Singleton donned the uniform.
Named a First Team Preseason All-Mid-American Conference by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Lockett Jr. is coming off a season in which he hauled in 46 passes for 660 yards and five scores with his yardage and touchdown totals leading the Eagles. A Third Team All-MAC honoree following the season, Lockett Jr. averaged 14.4 yard per catch during a campaign in which he tallied two, 100-yard games, including 122 yards and two scores against the University at Buffalo (Nov. 20) and 100 yards with two touchdowns on just three catches against Central Michigan University (Oct. 19).
Lockett Jr. also made special plays throughout the season. Early in the year, in a home game against Jacksonville State University (Sept. 14), he connected on a 22-yard passing touchdown to Max Reese to help build the lead in an eventual EMU victory. In the home contest with the University of Toledo (Nov. 2), Locket Jr. was on the receiving end of a 36-yard 'Hail Mary' into the end zone as time expired to pull the Eagles to within one point.
"When former teammates and Demarius' father both thought that this new tradition was a great way to honor his memory, we knew we got it right," added Creighton. "I truly believe that wearing 'The Deuce' will forever be a special honor in this program."
EMU has continued to recognize Reed's influence on the football program since his passing. His jersey is buried at midfield under the Block E logo inside Rynearson Stadium, while a plaque now memorializes his accomplishments inside the locker room at the Incarnati Athletic Center.
In 2017, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Sergio Bailey II wore the 'The Deuce' before former walk-on Blake Banham earned the honor in 2018. Clinton, Mich., native Mathew Sexton donned the jersey in 2019, before tight ends Thomas Odukoya and Bryson Cannon sported the number in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and Hassan Beydoun was selected for 2022. 'The Deuce' went to Tanner Knue in 2023.
The Season is Coming!
The 134th season of football gets underway Saturday, Aug. 30, in a 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) game against Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. The game will be televised live on ESPN+ while Tom Helmer (play-by-play), Rob Rubick (analyst), and Elena Davis (sideline) bring the action live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network app.
Tickets
Season ticket packages are available for the 2025 season and can be purchased by visiting EMUEagles.com/Tickets, by calling 734.487.3669, or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office.
For the Eastern Michigan University football program, there is one number that holds an even more special meaning. It is 'The Deuce'. Make no mistake: this jersey is special. It cannot be selected by a player through conventional means, such as requesting it through the equipment staff. Rather, the selection is made by a player through his actions on the field and off. He earns 'The Deuce' by demonstrating he possesses the integrity, character, and selflessness of EMU's football student-athletes and representatives strive to build within themselves.
For Eastern football, 'The Deuce', must be earned in remembrance of wide receiver Demarius Reed, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2013. Put back into circulation in 2017 with the blessing of Reed's family and former teammates, his number once again graces the field at Rynearson Stadium on the back of the squad's best senior pass catcher.
In a team meeting, held Thursday, Aug. 21, inside Rynearson Stadium, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced Terry Lockett Jr. (St. Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy/Michigan State) had earned the honor to wear the jersey emblazoned with the No. 2. The program's top returning receiver from 2024 earned 'The Deuce' one year after Oran Singleton donned the uniform.
Named a First Team Preseason All-Mid-American Conference by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, Lockett Jr. is coming off a season in which he hauled in 46 passes for 660 yards and five scores with his yardage and touchdown totals leading the Eagles. A Third Team All-MAC honoree following the season, Lockett Jr. averaged 14.4 yard per catch during a campaign in which he tallied two, 100-yard games, including 122 yards and two scores against the University at Buffalo (Nov. 20) and 100 yards with two touchdowns on just three catches against Central Michigan University (Oct. 19).
Lockett Jr. also made special plays throughout the season. Early in the year, in a home game against Jacksonville State University (Sept. 14), he connected on a 22-yard passing touchdown to Max Reese to help build the lead in an eventual EMU victory. In the home contest with the University of Toledo (Nov. 2), Locket Jr. was on the receiving end of a 36-yard 'Hail Mary' into the end zone as time expired to pull the Eagles to within one point.
"When former teammates and Demarius' father both thought that this new tradition was a great way to honor his memory, we knew we got it right," added Creighton. "I truly believe that wearing 'The Deuce' will forever be a special honor in this program."
EMU has continued to recognize Reed's influence on the football program since his passing. His jersey is buried at midfield under the Block E logo inside Rynearson Stadium, while a plaque now memorializes his accomplishments inside the locker room at the Incarnati Athletic Center.
In 2017, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Sergio Bailey II wore the 'The Deuce' before former walk-on Blake Banham earned the honor in 2018. Clinton, Mich., native Mathew Sexton donned the jersey in 2019, before tight ends Thomas Odukoya and Bryson Cannon sported the number in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and Hassan Beydoun was selected for 2022. 'The Deuce' went to Tanner Knue in 2023.
The Season is Coming!
The 134th season of football gets underway Saturday, Aug. 30, in a 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) game against Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. The game will be televised live on ESPN+ while Tom Helmer (play-by-play), Rob Rubick (analyst), and Elena Davis (sideline) bring the action live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network app.
Tickets
Season ticket packages are available for the 2025 season and can be purchased by visiting EMUEagles.com/Tickets, by calling 734.487.3669, or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office.
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