Texas State offensive lineman Tellek Lockette is leaving the team prior to the conclusion of the college football season. He called it a “mutual decision.”
The true fourth-year senior chose to preserve his eligibility to play an additional year at another school.
This kind of thing is not uncommon in the modern era of college football and I would imagine both of the involved parties wish each other the best. This now means the Bobcats will be without one of their top contributors as they try to become bowl eligible.
Who is Tellek Lockette?
Lockette initially committed to play at Louisiana-Monroe as a three-star prospect in the college football recruiting Class of 2022 over offers from schools like Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Kentucky. He played in 19 games over two years with the Warhawks before he entered the transfer portal for the first time.
That led him to San Marcos.
At 6-foot-3, 327 pounds, Tellek Lockette started every game at guard for Texas State in 2024— including the bowl game. The Bobcats finished at 8-5.
Although Lockette returned to the starting lineup in 2025, he left the game against UTSA with a lower leg injury in Week 3. Nor did he play against Nicholls State, Troy, Marshall or James Madison.
Why is he leaving Texas State?
Texas State dropped to 3-5 with a blowout loss to JMU on Wednesday. Two of its losses came in overtime. A third came by only one point on a fluky sequence of events late in the fourth quarter.
It will need to win three of its next four games to reach bowl eligibility.
College football players are allowed to play in four games without burning a redshirt. Lockette already played in four games this season.
With that in mind, he is choosing not to play another game in 2025. The soon-to-be fifth-year senior decided to bail on his team in the middle of the regular season to preserve an additional year of eligibility. This will allow him to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer in 2026.
As a result, Lockette is no longer listed on the roster.
I would imagine Lockette went to the coaching staff with his intent to redshirt and they told him to go ahead and leave now. His services are no longer necessary if he is not willing to play.
“It was my decision to redshirt,” Lockette told the Statesman. “I still love Texas State, and no hard feelings.”
It is hard to knock a player for looking out for himself. Especially after he dealt with injuries all season.
However, it does raise questions about his NIL compensation. Will Lockette owe money back to Texas State? What does his contract say about any remaining payments? That will be handled behind closed doors.