Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett adds even more TDs to historic rookie season

It’s too early to place Tyler Lockett’s season into proper historic perspective, but a fellow Seahawks receiver has no problem ranking him compared to the others in his rookie class.

“Rookie of the year,” Doug Baldwin said. “You heard it here first.”

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Lockett put together one of the finest games of his already solid rookie campaign Sunday against San Francisco, grabbing two first-half touchdowns to give him five total for the year. The first score came on a beautifully thrown 24-yard vertical route in the first quarter, the second on a second-quarter slant in the red zone where he dragged would-be tacklers into the end zone.

Lockett became the first Seahawks rookie with two receiving touchdowns in a game since Joey Galloway in 1995, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

The 23 year old finished with 48 yards on four catches, but he said after the game he’s not concerned about his individual stats.

“I’m not at (Kansas State) anymore; it’s not all about me. It’s never about me,” he said. “It’s about the team. I don’t have to go out there and do anything. I don’t have to do a lot. There’s a lot of players that’s capable of being able to be the guy and be successful and we understand that and we just want to be a team.”

Lockett scored his only other receiving TD of the year three weeks ago against the 49ers, but has also scored once each via punt return and kickoff return. He’s only the second rookie to score in those three phases of the game in a season in the past 15 years, with Green Bay’s Randall Cobb (2011) being the other, according to the NFL’s Randall Liu.

Lockett said that being a value in all three phases of the game is a Lockett family trait. His dad, Kevin Lockett, was a receiver and returner for the Chiefs, Washington, the Jaguars and the Jets over a seven-year NFL career.

“I’ve always been a returner, it’s in my blood; it’s in my family’s bloodline,” he said. “Everybody played receiver as well. I was just blessed to be able to grow up in a family that I’m in.”

Lockett had been quiet the previous two weeks, totaling a combined four catches and 43 yards. Though he’d set a career high 79 yards receiving in the previous meeting with San Francisco, he said there’s nothing special about the 49ers scheme that brings out the best in his game.

‘It’s just about making the best out of your opportunities,” he said. “Each and every day, we don’t know how many plays we’re going to get, how many targets we’re going to get. We don’t know any of that. It’s just being able to go out there and just be ready so when they call your name, and they call the play, it’s just being able to go out there and make that play.”

Lockett currently ranks fifth among rookies in receptions and yards, and is tied for second with in TD receptions. He’s also averaging a respectable 24.2 yards on kickoff returns. Baldwin called Lockett a “beast,” and credited the rookie’s work-ethic and humble attitude as the keys to his early success.

“I was waiting for that kid to do what he just did, because he has so much potential and he’s so good,” Baldwin said.

“He’s in the midst of hitting that rookie-wall right now, but I think this might propel him out of it,” he added. “He’s doing a phenomenal job. I can’t say enough about him.”