Continuing to Grow His Game
May 26, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
For now, he continues to learn. Sterling Lockett, the latest member of the most talented family in Kansas State history, is a son, a nephew and a younger brother; he's a big 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 fully hits his stride.
"He's a young man," K-State head coach Chris Klieman says, "who's continuing to get better."
By his junior year at Blue Valley High School, Sterling looked to have the long arms of his father Kevin, the lateral quickness of uncle Aaron, and the ankle-breaking cuts on routes like older brother Tyler, who enters his ninth season with the Seattle Seahawks.
Now the 5-foot-10, 163-pound Sterling is putting in work as a redshirt freshman with hopes of contributing to what's expected to be a mightily 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 Klein's first season as offensive coordinator.
"Coming into college is definitely a big experience," Lockett says. "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 that it goes. It was a really great first year, and I'm excited to build on it."
He certainly has an impressive foundation.
Kevin arrived at 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 all of the major receiving records in the program's history before graduating and becoming the second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1997 NFL Draft. Aaron came next in 1998. He was the No. 1 punt returner in college football in 2000, graduated from K-State in 2001 as just the fourth player in school history to reach 2,000 receiving yards in a career and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tyler broke his father's all-time school records in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, was the first four-year All-American in school history and a 2014 Consensus All-American by the time he graduated. A third-round draft pick by the Seahawks, Tyler is one of the top all-time receivers in franchise history.
Sterling was the 10th-rated player in the state of Kansas by ESPN after catching 65 passes for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns during his high school career in addition to averaging 22.8 yards per kickoff return his junior and senior seasons.
"They just tell me to keep my head down and keep working," Sterling says. "You never know what play it might happen or the next big thing that's going to elevate you to that stage. They tell me to just work day in and day out and never take anything for granted.
"Your family is always your biggest supporters. Having a family that truly understands everything you're experiencing is awesome. Man, I love my family. It's awesome."
One of the best things about Sterling, who runs an estimated 21 miles-per-hour, is there's ample time for him to take the big stage. He continues to learn defenses and how to get open based upon certain looks. He's a route-running technician. He continues to learn under sixth-year senior Phillip Brooks, whose 129 career receptions ranks seventh in school history.
"Phil has been awesome," Lockett says. "Phil was very similar, not a big receiver coming in, but we use our quickness to make up for it. He's been a really big help to me."
That's among the things that most impresses Klieman.
"He continues to gain the experience and is learning from Phillip Brooks how to do things the college way," Klieman says. "Sterling has terrific hands and runs really well. He's still getting bigger and stronger and learning how to play the college way, but I'm excited. He had a great first year learning on the scout 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 look at it as pressure," Sterling says, "but I like to look at it as another way to grow. You know where you have to get to. I'm really competitive, so it gives me something to push forward. It gives me a great expectation to work toward.
"I like the extra pressure to push me every day because you know what you're trying to live up to."
His potential is in his hands.
"His potential is really high but that's still to be determined," Klieman says. "What's the work that he wants to put in? It's like Phillip Brooks. Phillip decided he was going to put the work in. I don't doubt Sterling will. Will he put in the extra work in catching balls and running routes and continue to put more and more nutrition into his body so he can become bigger, faster and stronger?
"He has a high ceiling because he has a great football IQ and understands the game really well. I'm excited to see what he can do."
Most of all, Lockett is blessed with patience.
"There's always some patience involved, but that's a part of it," Lockett says. "It helps you grow. When you're not in there but trying to prove it's your turn, it gives you an edge to continue to work harder and continue to grow."
Lockett joins several teammates on stage at the Kansas City Catbacker event on Wednesday evening at The Pavilion at The Theatre in the Park and he speaks to a few hundred K-State fans.
"The first day you step on campus you can just tell K-State fans are so bought in," he says. "To come here my first year and go to the Big 12 Championship is a true blessing."
Perhaps Lockett garnered his greatest compliment yet late last season when Klieman described his play in practice.
"He's going to be a special, special football player here," Klieman said. "I know a lot of people know the name. You can ask (sixth-year starting safety) Josh Hayes who works with him the most every day in practice. Sterling Lockett – probably like his dad, probably like his uncle, and probably like his brother – he goes 100 miles-per-hour, and Josh Hayes thanks him every day for giving him the look that he does.
"This kid is really, really good."
For now, he continues to learn. Sterling Lockett, the latest member of the most talented family in Kansas State history, is a son, a nephew and a younger brother; he's a big 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 fully hits his stride.
"He's a young man," K-State head coach Chris Klieman says, "who's continuing to get better."
By his junior year at Blue Valley High School, Sterling looked to have the long arms of his father Kevin, the lateral quickness of uncle Aaron, and the ankle-breaking cuts on routes like older brother Tyler, who enters his ninth season with the Seattle Seahawks.
Now the 5-foot-10, 163-pound Sterling is putting in work as a redshirt freshman with hopes of contributing to what's expected to be a mightily 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 Klein's first season as offensive coordinator.
"Coming into college is definitely a big experience," Lockett says. "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 that it goes. It was a really great first year, and I'm excited to build on it."
He certainly has an impressive foundation.
Kevin arrived at 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 all of the major receiving records in the program's history before graduating and becoming the second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1997 NFL Draft. Aaron came next in 1998. He was the No. 1 punt returner in college football in 2000, graduated from K-State in 2001 as just the fourth player in school history to reach 2,000 receiving yards in a career and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tyler broke his father's all-time school records in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, was the first four-year All-American in school history and a 2014 Consensus All-American by the time he graduated. A third-round draft pick by the Seahawks, Tyler is one of the top all-time receivers in franchise history.
Sterling was the 10th-rated player in the state of Kansas by ESPN after catching 65 passes for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns during his high school career in addition to averaging 22.8 yards per kickoff return his junior and senior seasons.
"They just tell me to keep my head down and keep working," Sterling says. "You never know what play it might happen or the next big thing that's going to elevate you to that stage. They tell me to just work day in and day out and never take anything for granted.
"Your family is always your biggest supporters. Having a family that truly understands everything you're experiencing is awesome. Man, I love my family. It's awesome."
One of the best things about Sterling, who runs an estimated 21 miles-per-hour, is there's ample time for him to take the big stage. He continues to learn defenses and how to get open based upon certain looks. He's a route-running technician. He continues to learn under sixth-year senior Phillip Brooks, whose 129 career receptions ranks seventh in school history.
"Phil has been awesome," Lockett says. "Phil was very similar, not a big receiver coming in, but we use our quickness to make up for it. He's been a really big help to me."
That's among the things that most impresses Klieman.
"He continues to gain the experience and is learning from Phillip Brooks how to do things the college way," Klieman says. "Sterling has terrific hands and runs really well. He's still getting bigger and stronger and learning how to play the college way, but I'm excited. He had a great first year learning on the scout 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 look at it as pressure," Sterling says, "but I like to look at it as another way to grow. You know where you have to get to. I'm really competitive, so it gives me something to push forward. It gives me a great expectation to work toward.
"I like the extra pressure to push me every day because you know what you're trying to live up to."
His potential is in his hands.
"His potential is really high but that's still to be determined," Klieman says. "What's the work that he wants to put in? It's like Phillip Brooks. Phillip decided he was going to put the work in. I don't doubt Sterling will. Will he put in the extra work in catching balls and running routes and continue to put more and more nutrition into his body so he can become bigger, faster and stronger?
"He has a high ceiling because he has a great football IQ and understands the game really well. I'm excited to see what he can do."
Most of all, Lockett is blessed with patience.
"There's always some patience involved, but that's a part of it," Lockett says. "It helps you grow. When you're not in there but trying to prove it's your turn, it gives you an edge to continue to work harder and continue to grow."
Lockett joins several teammates on stage at the Kansas City Catbacker event on Wednesday evening at The Pavilion at The Theatre in the Park and he speaks to a few hundred K-State fans.
"The first day you step on campus you can just tell K-State fans are so bought in," he says. "To come here my first year and go to the Big 12 Championship is a true blessing."
Perhaps Lockett garnered his greatest compliment yet late last season when Klieman described his play in practice.
"He's going to be a special, special football player here," Klieman said. "I know a lot of people know the name. You can ask (sixth-year starting safety) Josh Hayes who works with him the most every day in practice. Sterling Lockett – probably like his dad, probably like his uncle, and probably like his brother – he goes 100 miles-per-hour, and Josh Hayes thanks him every day for giving him the look that he does.
"This kid is really, really good."
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