In the Fall of 2013 Gavin Locklear (Apex High School) walked on to the NC State football team. He knew that he had a lot to learn, but he knew if he was coachable and applied himself that he had what it took to play at NC State.

“I knew I was good talented wide receiver, but I knew I needed some more work,” said Locklear. “I told myself once I got here and got some real good coaching, that I would put myself in a situation to hopefully be able to play here, and it seems like it’s working out.”

He learned a lot during his redshirt season, because heading into his redshirt freshman season last year, he had caught his head coaches eye.  Locklear was standing out in Spring workouts, and was in the mix to be in the rotation at wide receiver as a redshirt freshman last season, before suffering an open compound leg fracture during summer workouts.

When you are that close to achieving your goals, it can take a mental toll on a football player, but Locklear said that he never doubted his mental strength.

“The hardest part was more physical than mental for me.  Especially the rehab.  There were bumps in the road,” said Locklear. “You work, and you’re feeling good, and then something else would happen.  The whole leg was hurting.  I had the break in the leg, and then I ended up getting tendinitis.  It seemed like one thing after another, but I just had to stay true to the process.  Now I feel great.  Being completely good that first day of practice was a good feeling”

Even after a major leg injury, and a lengthy recovery process, Locklear has made it right back to where he was last year.    He had an impressive Spring once again.  He was listed as one of the starters on the Kay Yow Spring Game depth chart.  Both head coach Dave Doeren and quarterback Jacoby Brissett have spoken well of him this Spring and Summer.

That’s well and good for Locklear, but he has very high expectations for himself.  He believed he could play at NC State, and when he does he expects to contribute at a high level.

“I have high expectations for myself.  My goal is definitely to lead the receiver group in catches and receiving yards,” said Locklear. “At the same time, my goal is to be a great teammate and a great leader for these young guys, and even for the older guys.”

No one doubts the strength of NC State’s running backs or their quarterback, but the Wolfpack wide receiver corps is a question mark for most.  After two of the top three producing wide receivers from last season transferred (Bo Hines and Marquez Valdes-Scantling), everyone is left wondering who is going to step up to the plate.

“We definitely don’t take it lightly.  No one wants to be the weak link on the team.  We’re working hard.  We’re really pushing ourselves,” said Locklear. “Right now there is a lot of competition at wide receiver, and there is a actually a lot of depth.  We’re building really good depth and really good players that we can depend on.”

This will be the sophomore walk-on’s third season on the Wolfpack football team, and he has earned the respect of his fellow teammates.  Locklear was elected to the 2015 Wolfpack Football Leadership Council by his fellow wide receivers as the upperclassmen representative of the unit.  His leadership is one of the things that he thinks makes him special in this unit.

“My leadership within the group.  And my quickness and my good hands,” said Locklear. “I pride myself in catching the ball.  I really pride myself in being a dependable receiver.”