#6 Sterling Lockett — Not to put a lot of pressure on redshirt sophomore wide receiver Sterling Lockett (6) to perform this season, but when you’re the son of Kevin Lockett, the nephew of Aaron Lockett and the younger brother of Tyler Lockett, all of whom started as true freshmen, such expectations sort of come with the territory and family legacy. Luckily, he saw some playing time last last year and coaches have been saying good things about him in camp. | Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the sixth day until the 2024 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State wide receiver Sterling Lockett.

Goal No. 6: SELF-DISCIPLINE. Do it right; don’t accept less.

#6 Sterling Lockett

Redshirt Sophomore | 5-10 | 170 lbs. | Leawood, Kansas

Position: Wide Receiver
Previous College: None
Projection: Third-String
Status: On Scholarship

Sterling Lockett (b. Oct. 8, 2003) is a shifty, smooth wide receiver from Blue Valley High School who is majoring in business administration. He redshirted and did not play in 2022.

Lockett played in two games in 2023, seeing time as a reserve wide receiver against Baylor and as a punt returner in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State. He looks to continue in both roles in 2024 and has improved dramatically as a route runner, based on fall camp reports.

For instance, here’s this week’s rosy assessment from co-offensive coordinator Matt Wells:

Sterling Lockett has had a really, really good camp. He continues to impress. He’s playing fast. He’s playing really fast. We’ll play a lot of those guys. That’s healthy and keeps them fresher and helps inspire during the week when you’re installing things. We’re not just going to play two and three (wide receivers) all year. You’ll see us play a lot.

Lockett prepped under head coach Allen Terrell at Blue Valley, where he was rated the 10th-best player in the state of Kansas by ESPN, and he was high school teammates with K-State linebacker Beau Palmer, running back JB Price and fellow wide receiver Andre Davis.

He hauled in 65 receptions for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns during his career, which included a five-touchdown campaign as a senior.

Lockett picked up 2021 honorable mention all-state honors from Sports in Kansas after he averaged 22.8 yards per kickoff return for the Tigers over the final two years of his career.

He selected K-State over interest (but no offers) from Arizona State, Iowa and Iowa State.

Lockett’s primary recruiters were K-State director of football recruiting Taylor Braet and former fullbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers coach Jason Ray.

Sterling continues a proud family tradition of excellence: His father, Kevin (1993-96); uncle, Aaron (1998-2001); and brother, Tyler (2011-14), all were star wide receivers for the Wildcats.

They collectively averaged 15.2 yards every time they caught a football. In all, they produced 13,655 all-purpose yards.

Tyler ranks first in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, while Kevin ranks second in each category. Tyler currently is a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.

(And then, of course, there are the twins, Jacob and Jordan. Will they make it a six-fecta…?)