By: D. Scott Fritchen
For now keep learning. sterling locket, the newest member of the most talented family in the history of the state of Kansas, is a son, a nephew and a younger brother; he’s a great play waiting to happen at wide receiver, with wheels and soft hands; and he’s a sponge and consummate teammate for the Wildcats, with room to grow before he reaches his full rhythm.
“He’s a young man,” K-State head coach chris kliemann He says, “it just keeps getting better.”
As a junior at Blue Valley High School, Sterling seemed to have his father Kevin’s long arms, Uncle Aaron’s lateral quickness, and ankle-breaking cuts on routes like big brother Tyler, who enters his ninth season with the Seattles. Seahawks.
Now the 5-foot-10, 163-pound Sterling is putting to work as a redshirt freshman in hopes of contributing to what is expected to be a powerfully explosive offense in the fall. K-State finished seventh in single-season history with 452 points, second in total offense with 5,863 total yards, and sixth in passing yards with 2,947 during collin kleinFirst season as offensive coordinator.
“Getting into college is definitely a great experience,” says Lockett. “It’s definitely a lot different than high school. I’m learning new things about the way I want to play the game and the different speeds it goes at. It was a really great first year and I’m excited to continue to build on it.” .”
It certainly has an impressive foundation.
Kevin came to K-State in 1992 from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He left K-State as a two-time All-American and set every major receiving record in program history before graduating and becoming the second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1997 NFL Draft. Aaron was his next in 1998. He was the No. 1 punt returner in college football in 2000, graduated from K-State in 2001 as the fourth player in school history to reach 2,000 career receiving yards, and was drafted by Tampa Bay. buccaneers.
Tyler broke his father’s all-time school records for receiving, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, was the first four-year-old All-American in school history, and a 2014 Consensus All-American upon graduation. Tyler, selected in the third round of the draft by the Seahawks, is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time in franchise history.
Sterling was the 10heranked at Kansas State by ESPN after catching 65 passes for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns during his high school career, as well as averaging 22.8 yards per kickoff in his junior and senior seasons.
“They just tell me to keep my head down and keep working,” Sterling says. “You never know what play might happen or the next big thing that’s going to take you to that level. They tell me to just work day in and day out and never take anything for granted.”
“Your family is always your biggest support. To have a family that really understands everything you’re going through is amazing. Man, I love my family. It’s amazing.”
One of the best things about Sterling, who runs at an estimated speed of 21 miles per hour, is that he has plenty of time to get on the big stage. He continues to learn defenses and how to open up according to certain looks. He is a route technician. Continue learning under sixth senior year phillip brookswhose 129 career receptions rank seventh in school history.
“Phil has been amazing,” says Lockett. “Phil was very similar, he wasn’t a great inbound receiver, but we used our quickness to make up for it. He’s been a big help to me.”
That is one of the things that impresses Klieman the most.
“He continues to gain experience and is learning from phillip brooks how to do things college-style,” says Klieman. “Sterling has great hands and runs great. He’s still getting bigger and stronger and learning to play like he was in college, but I’m excited. He had a great first year learning on the scouting team.”
Kevin (1993-96), Aaron (1998-01) and Tyler (2011-14) collectively averaged 15.2 yards every time they caught a football. In all, they produced 13,655 all-purpose yards.
Any pressure?
“Some people see it as pressure,” says Sterling, “but I like to see it as another way to grow. You know where you have to go. I’m really competitive, so it gives me something to keep going. It gives me great anticipation for which to work
“I like the added pressure to push myself every day because you know what you’re trying to deliver.”
Your potential is in your hands.
“His potential is really high, but it’s still to be determined,” says Klieman. “What’s the job you want to do? It’s like phillip brooks. Phillip decided that he was going to work. I don’t doubt Sterling does. Will he do the extra work catching balls and running routes and will he continue to put more and more nutrition into his body so he can get bigger, faster and stronger?
“He has a high ceiling because he has a great soccer IQ and understands the game very well. I’m excited to see what he can do.”
Above all, Lockett has been blessed with patience.
“There’s always a bit of patience involved, but that’s part of it,” says Lockett. “It helps you grow. When you’re not there but you’re trying to show it’s your turn, it gives you an advantage to keep working harder and keep growing.”
Lockett joins several teammates onstage at the Kansas City Catbacker event Wednesday night at The Pavilion at The Theater in the Park and speaks to a few hundred K-State fans.
“The first day you walk onto campus, you can tell the K-State fans are pretty sold on it,” he says. “Coming here my freshman year and going to the Big 12 Championship is a real blessing.”
Lockett perhaps got his biggest compliment until late last season when Klieman described his game in practice.
“He’s going to be a very special soccer player here,” Klieman said. “I know a lot of people know the name. You can ask (sixth year starting security) joseph hayes who works with him more every day in practice. sterling locket – probably like your father, probably like your uncle, and probably like your brother – is going 100 miles an hour, and joseph hayes thanks him every day for giving him the look he does.
“This boy is very, very good.”
