If you are a Kansas State fan, you probably had a Lockett playing in your lifetime, whether it was Aaron, Kevin, Tyler, or now Sterling. The Lockett family roots run deep at Kansas State.
However, we won't be talking about the Lockett family as a whole in this article, instead, this article will focus on the Lockett that had the best career at Kansas State, Tyler Lockett.
Tyler Lockett played four seasons with the Wildcats under legendary coach Bill Snyder and was a part of the 2012 that won the Big 12 Championship and was one win away from a National Championship appearance.
Lockett's last two seasons were by far his best recording over 1,200 in each season. In 2013, Lockett doubled his yardage from 2012 with 1,262 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He took another big step forward in his senior season with 1,515 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns yet again. He was the go-to guy with sure hands and a jaw-dropping toe-touch game that left fans amazed.
Tyler Lockett toe drag swag 😳 pic.twitter.com/EqebiGpX4b
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) November 20, 2020
Lockett chose to declare for the NFL Draft after the 2014 season, and while K-State fans felt like he was the best wide receiver in the draft, NFL analysts had questions and doubts. They questioned if his size would be an issue played against much bigger and rougher defenders in the NFL. However, one team felt Lockett was worth the risk.
The 5-foot-10 Tulsa native was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, who actually traded up to get him. Initially, the Seahawks planned to use him primarily as a kick and punt return specialist, but Lockett's talents shined and he earned his starting role in Seattle.
In his first appearance in an NFL game, Lockett showed up in the biggest way possible by returning a 103-yard kickoff for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in a preseason opener. Just four weeks later in his regular-season debut, he had a 57-yard punt return touchdown in his first career punt return.
After recording 664 receiving yards on 51 receptions and six touchdowns and one punt returned for a touchdown, Lockett finished fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and was a First Team All-Pro selection and a Pro Bowl Selection.
Lockett would steadily improve throughout the year, sometimes dealing with injuries that would take him out of a few games, but his best season was from 2019 to 2023 when he had over 1,000 receiving yards in four out of those five seasons.
He has scored 10 touchdowns in the NFL in two different seasons and he had his career high in receiving yards in 2021 with 1, 175 yards. Now heading into his 10th season in the NFL, Lockett is the longest-tenured Seahawk.
There were rumors of Lockett being traded back in April, but he shut those down saying he had no intent of going to another team if he had any control over it.
So after being the best wise receiver to probably ever come out of Kansas State, rivaled only by probably Jordy Nelson, Lockett has had an amazing career in the NFL. He currently has a total of 1,994 receiving yards on 612 receptions and 61 total touchdowns.
Lockett has not shown any indication of slowing down anytime soon, and why would he?