How Fatherhood Has Helped Further Motivate Da’Wain Lofton Heading into Senior Season

STILLWATER — There are already a lot of responsibilities for college football players, but Da’Wain Lofton added another this offseason: being a father.

Lofton, a wide receiver at Oklahoma State, had a daughter born three months ago. Lofton transferred to OSU from Virginia Tech ahead of last season before redshirting with the Cowboys. Entering his final year of eligibility, having a child has added some motivation.

“It kind of puts a chip on your shoulder,” Lofton said. “You gotta get up every day and go work harder. Shoot, I gotta go home and feed someone every day. Gotta go home and work harder and do everything you can for her.”

Upon initially coming to Oklahoma State, Lofton expected the 2024 season to be his last, but he had a redshirt year available after spending three seasons in Blacksburg. After an early season injury, he played in four games with the Cowboys and redshirted, lining up another year in college ball he didn’t think he would have this time last year.

“It’s a blessing overall,” Lofton said. “It’s a blessing for me and my family just to have another opportunity, get a shot to go to the next level, and just build on my craft.”

Lofton made the most of his limited opportunities in his first season as a Cowboy, catching six passes for 140 yards in his four games. His 23.3 yards per reception led the team.

He had receptions of 41 yards and 22 yards against West Virginia in a game where he finished with 73 yards on just three catches. He set a career-long reception against Baylor a few weeks later on a 56-yard catch and run.

The Cowboys receiving corps. will have new leaders in 2025, with Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens finishing out their eligibility and De’Zhaun Stribling transferring to Ole Miss. Despite playing in only four games last season, Lofton is the Cowboys’ second-leading returner in receiving yards. He trails only Talyn Shettron, who Gundy announced a few weeks back was missing time with an injury.

At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Lofton said he spent the first few weeks of spring in the slot, where he primarily played last season, but lately, he’s been working on the outside. If you’re at all worried about an outside receiver being less than 6-foot, Tylan Wallace is listed at 5-11, as well, and that wasn’t much of an issue for him in Stillwater.

In fact, Wallace is somewhat of an inspiration to Lofton and was even part of the reason he plays receiver and chose to come to Oklahoma State.

“I looked up to Tylan Wallace, who came here,” said Lofton last August. “We’re from the same city. He’s from Fort Worth, went to South Hills, and I went to school on the other side of town (North Side). I kind of looked up to him in middle school, watching him play, and once I got to high school, that’s what drew me to play receiver. After I entered the portal, Oklahoma State gave me a chance to come here, and shoot, I took that chance with no hesitation.”

Growing up in Fort Worth, Lofton said he had a relationship with new OSU offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, who was at TCU from 2014 to 2016 and from 2020 through last season. That relationship, as well as fatherhood, played a role in keeping Lofton in Stillwater this offseason, as he initially indicated a move to the portal shortly after the season.

“Got to hop on the phone call with (Meacham), kind of ease me, settled me down a little bit,” Lofton said. “Made me feel better about staying here, and then like I said, I also have my daughter. Literally had her like a week before school had started. Man, there was a lot going on. Just had to make the best decision for me and my family.”