If you are a Kansas State supporter, you have undoubtedly seen one of the Locketts play—Aaron, Kevin, Tyler, or now Sterling—at some point in your life. At Kansas State, the Lockett family has a long history.
But this piece won’t be discussing the Lockett family as a whole; rather, it will center on Tyler Lockett, the Lockett who had the best Kansas State career.
Under the legendary coach Bill Snyder, Tyler Lockett spent four seasons as a member of the Wildcats, helping them win the Big 12 Championship and come within one victory of a trip to the National Championship.
By far Lockett’s best two seasons were the last two, with over 1,200 points in each. Lockett doubled his receiving yardage from 2012 to 1,262 yards in 2013 with 11 touchdowns. His senior year saw him make even more progress, this time with 1,515 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the go-to man because of his steady hands and incredible toe-touch technique, which astounded the audience.
After the 2014 season, Lockett made the decision to enter the NFL Draft. NFL analysts had doubts and concerns, despite K-State supporters believing he was the best wide receiver available. They wondered if his size would be a problem when facing NFL defenders who are bigger and rougher. Still, one team believed Lockett was worth the chance.
The Seattle Seahawks traded up to select the 5-foot-10 native of Tulsa in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. At first, Lockett was supposed to serve mainly as a kick and punt return specialist for the Seahawks, but his abilities were so evident that Seattle gave him a starting position.
Lockett made the biggest impression imaginable in his NFL debut, returning a 103-yard kickoff for a touchdown in the preseason opener against the Denver Broncos. He had his first career punt return touchdown, a 57-yarder, in his regular-season debut just four weeks later.
Lockett was selected to the First Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, and finished fourth in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting after logging 664 receiving yards on 51 receptions, six touchdowns, and one punt return for a touchdown.
Though he occasionally suffered injuries that kept him out of a few games, Lockett would gradually get better throughout the season. However, his best season occurred from 2019 to 2023, during which he recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in four of those five seasons.
In two different NFL seasons, he has scored ten touchdowns, and in 2021, he recorded his highest receiving yard total of 1,175 yards. Lockett is the Seahawk with the longest contract as he enters his tenth season in the NFL.
Lockett put an end to rumors that he was being traded back in April, stating that if he had any control over the situation, he had no intention of joining another team.
Lockett has had an incredible NFL career after emerging from Kansas State as the most intelligent receiver ever, possibly only surpassed by Jordy Nelson. Currently, he has 612 receptions for 1,994 receiving yards, with 61 touchdowns overall.
Why would Lockett slow down when he hasn’t indicated that he will anytime soon?
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