Ricardo Lockette facts for kids
Lockette with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013
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| No. 83 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 21, 1986 Albany, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 211 lb (96 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Monroe (Albany, Georgia) | ||||||
| College: | Fort Valley State (2006–2010) | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2011 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Ricardo Quantaye Lockette (born May 21, 1986) is a former American football player. He played as a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League (NFL). Ricardo was born in Albany, Georgia. He played college football for the Fort Valley State Wildcats. The Seahawks signed him in 2011 after he was not chosen in the NFL draft.
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Ricardo Lockette's Early Life
Ricardo Quantaye Lockette was born on May 21, 1986, in Albany, Georgia. His parents are Earl and Felita Lockette. When he was young, Ricardo played Little League football. His father was his coach during these early years.
Ricardo went to Monroe Comprehensive High School in Albany. There, he played football and also competed in track and field. He planned to play football for the Auburn Tigers in college. However, he later decided to attend a different school.
College Sports Career
Lockette first attended Wallace Community College for one year. While there, he was a top athlete in track. He finished tenth in the nation for the 400-meter dash. After taking a year off to train, Lockette transferred to Fort Valley State University.
At Fort Valley State, Lockette continued to excel in track. In 2008, he won the NCAA Division II 200-meter dash with a personal best time. He also ran the 100-meter dash very quickly. His track coach believed he could have gone to the Olympic trials if he had focused only on track.
In 2010, Lockette played football for the Fort Valley State Wildcats. He was a wide receiver and also returned kickoffs. That season, he caught 23 passes for 262 yards and scored one touchdown. After his college football season, Ricardo was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. This event allows college players to show their skills to NFL teams.
Ricardo Lockette's Professional Football Journey
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+1⁄8 in (1.88 m) |
211 lb (96 kg) |
33+3⁄4 in (0.86 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.37 s | 4.19 s | 7.15 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) |
10 ft 7 in (3.23 m) |
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| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Playing for the Seattle Seahawks
At the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, Lockette showed his speed. He had one of the fastest times in the 40-yard dash. The Seattle Seahawks signed him as a player who was not drafted by any team. This happened after the NFL lockout ended in 2011. He was later released but then rejoined the Seahawks' practice squad. In December 2011, Lockette was added to the main 53-man roster.
During his first time with the Seahawks, Lockette made some important plays. In a game against the San Francisco 49ers in December 2011, he made a big 44-yard catch. He also scored a 61-yard touchdown in a game against the Arizona Cardinals in January 2012. After the 2012 preseason, Lockette was released again but later signed to the practice squad.
Time with Other Teams
Lockette joined the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad in September 2012. He stayed with them for almost a year before being released in August 2013.
After leaving the 49ers, Lockette was signed by the Chicago Bears to their practice squad in September 2013. He was with the Bears for about a month before being released in October.
Returning to the Seattle Seahawks
Ricardo Lockette returned to the Seattle Seahawks in October 2013. During this second time with the team, he became a key player on special teams. Special teams are groups of players who handle kickoffs, punts, and field goals.
Lockette and the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014. They beat the Denver Broncos 43–8. In that game, Lockette had one catch for 19 yards. The next year, in Super Bowl XLIX, Lockette had 3 catches for 59 yards. However, the Seahawks lost that game 28–24 to the New England Patriots. He was the player the ball was thrown to on the Seahawks' last offensive play, but it was caught by an opposing player.
In March 2015, the Seahawks decided not to offer Lockette a new contract right away. However, he eventually re-signed with the team.
Injury and Retirement
On November 1, 2015, during a game against the Dallas Cowboys, Lockette suffered a serious injury while covering a punt. He was taken off the field. The next day, the Seahawks announced that he had neck ligament damage. This injury required surgery and ended his season.
Ricardo Lockette announced his retirement from football on May 12, 2016. He said that the injury he got in 2015 was a big reason for his decision to stop playing.
Ricardo Lockette's Life Off the Field
In 2014, Ricardo Lockette often visited elementary schools in Albany to speak to students. In 2016, he was honored by being inducted into the Albany Sports Hall of Fame.
