The Mount Rushmore Of K-State Wide Receivers
Last week I wrote about the Mount Rushmore of K-State running backs. I thought I would get a little more push-back than I did, but most people seemed to agree with my picks. That may not be the case this week with the wide receivers.
As with the running backs, two of my picks are likely unanimous among K-State fans. The other two may result in some discussion, if not an argument. Regardless, here is who I choose as the Mount Rushmore of K-State wide receivers.
Jordy Nelson
Nelson walked on at K-State in 2003 and was originally going to play defensive back. Bill Snyder moved him to wide receiver in 2004. The rest is history. He holds numerous K-State receiving records, and his name appears in the record book as much or more than anyone. Nelson was first-team all-Big 12 in 2007 and was a consensus All-American in 2007. In 2008, he was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers and had a very successful NFL career. He made the Pro Bowl in 2014 and led the league in touchdown catches in 2016. He also won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011.
There is one play in Nelson’s career I remember above all others. It happened during the 2007 K-State/KU game. KU star cornerback Aquib Talib was covering Jordy Nelson. Or at least he tried to cover him. Nelson ran right past Talib, making him look ridiculous on the play, for a 68-yard touchdown pass from Josh Freeman. Talib and Nelson would both go on to play in the NFL, but Nelson got the better of him on that day.
Here are some of the K-State records that Jordy Nelson holds….
School record for receptions in a game, 15, twice.
School record for receptions in a season.
Third place in career receptions.
School record for receptions per game in a season and career.
The number three and four top receiving yardage games in school history.
School record for receiving yardage in a season.
Third in career receiving yardage.
School record for receiving yards per game in a season.
Fourth in career receiving touchdowns.
Tyler Lockett
Tyler Lockett played at K-State from 2011-2014. A two-time first-team all-Big 12 selection, he was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Lockett has had a lot of success in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in 2015 and the second team all-pro team in 2016 and 2017. His name is prominent in the K-State record books, just like Jordy Nelson. Here is a sampling…
Second and third place in receptions in a season.
School record for career receptions.
Top two yardage games in school history and five of the top 10.
School record for career receiving yardage.
School record for career receiving touchdowns.
Kevin Lockett
Kevin Lockett played at K-State from 1993 to 1996. He is also Tyler’s Dad. Kevin was first-team all-Big 12 in 1996, the same year he led the league in receptions. During his playing days, he set the K-State record for career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. All of them were records held by Michael Smith. The records he set have since been broken, but Kevin is still near the top in some key categories….
Second place in career receiving touchdowns.
Second place in career receiving yardage.
Top four in career receptions per game.
Second place in career receptions.
Michael Smith
Michael Smith played at K-State from 1988 to 1991. Considering all of the great receivers that have played for K-State since Smith graduated, his numbers still hold up pretty well. During his playing days, Smith set the school record for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Here is where he currently sits in the K-State record books.
Fourth place in career receptions.
Fourth place in career receiving yardage.
Top 10 in career touchdowns.
Since Smith is in fourth place on the all-time list in receptions and receiving yards and set numerous school records during his playing days, he gets the final nod over some other receivers I considered.
Quincy Morgan almost made the top four, and if he had played four seasons at K-State instead of only two, he might have shattered some K-State receiving records. Today he is third in career touchdowns, first in career yards per game, holds the school record for receiving touchdowns in a season, and is sixth in career receiving yards.
K-State has had so many great receivers over the years. Guys like Aaron Lockett, Darnell McDonald, Mitch Running, Curry Sexton, Chris Harper, Brandon Banks, Dave Jones, James Terry, Chris Harper, Andre Coleman, Byron Pringle, and the list goes on and on. It will be tough for someone to break into the K-State wide receiver Mount Rushmore, that is for sure.
Up next is the tight ends.
One thought on “The Mount Rushmore Of K-State Wide Receivers”
Morgan over Smith all day every day. Smith was great and played longer but Morgan was better. 5 great players.