Kansas State football: 15 best wide receivers in Wildcats history

Greatest wide receivers in Kansas State football history: 1. Tyler Lockett

Tyler Lockett is 100 percent the greatest wide receiver and return specialist in Kansas State football history, and it’s not even particularly close. Lockett is entering his fifth NFL season as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, who drafted him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Lockett is the son of Kevin Lockett and the nephew of Aaron Lockett, two men who have already graced this all-time list in the top five. But what made Tyler Lockett so special?

Lockett first came to K-State in 2011 as a player with a huge familial legacy to uphold. His father held every major receiving record in school history. His uncle was an electrifying return man and an excellent receiver in his own right. But what if I told you this Lockett would put both of his male relatives’ accomplishments in the dust? That is exactly what Lockett did during his four years playing for Bill Snyder at Kansas State.

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As a freshman in 2011, Lockett would be named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, as well as earn his first First-Team All-American nod.

He had 18 catches for 246 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver, 10 carries for 110 yards as a runner and 16 kickoff returns for 563 yards and two touchdowns. Lockett also had six punt returns for 38 yards as a freshman in 2011.

Lockett would become a more vibrant part of the K-State passing game in 2012 with Collin Klein’s emergence as a passer. He had 44 catches for 687 yards and four receiving touchdowns, as well as seven carries for 55 yards out of the backfield.

In the return game, he returned 21 kickoffs for 688 yards and two touchdowns. He also fielded three punts for an additional 44 yards. K-State would win the Big 12 that season on the heels of an extraordinary season by Klein.

As a junior in 2013, Lockett exploded as a receiver. He had 81 catches for 1,262 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a kickoff returner, he had 22 returns for 583 yards. Lockett would be named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year for the first of two times in his college career. But just wait for what he did as a senior…

In Lockett’s final season in 2014, he cemented his legacy as a Big 12 legend. Lockett had 106 catches for 1,515 yards and 11 touchdowns. He returned 18 kickoffs for 362 yards, as well as 21 punts for 402 yards and two touchdowns. Lockett was a First-Team All-American, All-Big 12, won the Jet Award and was named Big 12 Athlete of the Year for the 2014-15 scholastic year. Though his NFL career still has chapters to be written, it is essentially a guarantee that Lockett will one day be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.