Chris Hummer
Sept. 3, 2017: The most tumultuous year of Kai Locksley's life was about to come to a head.
An Under Armour All-American who'd signed with Texas out of high school, Locksley found himself jettisoned at his third program in as many college seasons. He'd arrived at Iowa Western, his second junior college stop, to reinvent his career.
Locksley came without the benefit of a scholarship, having to earn that right his first summer in Council Bluffs. Reivers head coach Scott Strohmeier knew of Locksley's previous lumps. The off-field immaturity that caused then Texas head coach Charlie Strong to tell his former four-star quarterback: "You want to act like a receiver? I'm going to put you at receiver."
After a summer paying his own way, Locksley earned his scholarship. He'd begun prioritizing punctuality, tutoring sessions and having his "quarterback hat on 24/7." He knew a person only gets so many chances.
But he didn't start. Locksley ended fall camp a backup and played sparingly in the team's first two games. His mom, Kia, said she'd talk Kai "off the ledge a lot" during that time.
The night after Iowa Western's Week 2 win, offensive coordinator Donnie Woods woke Locksley in his room. His dad, Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, was on the phone. His brother, Meiko, had called at 10 p.m. Asleep, Kai had missed the call. Coupled with an unusual communication from his dad – the two were working through some things at the time – and Kai knew something was wrong.
"I heard my father's voice in a tone that I had never heard before, even when his brothers went to prison," Locksley told 247Sports.
Meiko, 25, had been shot and killed in Columbia, Maryland less than 30 minutes after calling his brother. Police believe the murder may have been a drug-related robbery based on evidence they've gathered, according to the Baltimore Sun.
The closest brother in age to Kai in a family of four siblings, Kai grew up idolizing Meiko. A Division I football player at New Mexico, Mekio was who Kai wanted to be. Kia said Kai thought Meiko was "perfect."
Meiko had his own strange journey as a football player, including a stop at Iowa Western in 2012. Kai, during his equally volatile career, leaned on his brother's council.
"He's been a huge impact and influence on who I am," Kai said.
Loss can affect people in different ways. Kia worried that Kai, always emotional, would be hit particularly hard. Strohmeier thought his quarterback would need time away from the team. Locksley grieved heavily. He called his mom to vent frequently. But football, the game that had barbed him since high school graduation, provided an escape.
Locksley didn't miss a day of practice. He wanted to be around his team.
Strohmeier approached his starting quarterback Kurt Walding with a request. "In memory of what Kai is going through, we're thinking about starting him." Walding responded: "Without a doubt."
That's how Locksley found himself back on the field on Sept. 9 against Fort Scott Community College.
Locksley hadn't started a game since 2014. He prepared with artistry. He placed Meiko's name on his wristband, his cleats and his undershirt. Kai carried his brother to a 63-6 win. Locksley completed nine of 11 passes, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in only a half of work.
"I saw a determined, motivated player, almost to where someone else is giving him powers," Strohmeier said. Afterword in a conversation with his mom, Locksley confirmed as much: "I felt him in every throw, every run, every read, just everything. It just felt like I had an extra strength, an extra focus."
To understand this performance entirely, one need to remember some thought Locksley would never be a QB at all. His recruiting ranking in high school had an "athlete" distinction by it. At the Under Armour game, coaches asked Locksley to play wide receiver. Once his Texas QB coach, Shawn Watson, left the program, the Longhorns quickly moved Locksley to receiver. At that point, Locksley said "It kind of took all hope … I felt like I lost the only guy I could connect with on the staff."
Internally, Locksley never lost sight of the position. He wanted be a quarterback.
Locksley threw in front of Jimbo Fisher before earning a Florida State offer. He impressed Nick Saban before Alabama verbally extended. The same had to occur at Oregon in front of Mark Helfrich and Scott Frost.
As it turns out, Watson never abandoned the idea of Locksley the quarterback.
Locksley left Texas for Arizona Western, but he spent only a semester at the school citing a bad scheme fit. Initially, Locksley committed to Marshall for the 2017 season, but he didn't want to sit out a full campaign. Iowa Western recruited Locksley when he first left Texas. The second time around, Strohmeier called Watson and asked about Locksley's ability to fit into Iowa Western's spread offense.
"Without a doubt he can play QB," Watson said.
Channeling his brother, Locksley never did give up Iowa Western's starting job. He led the Reivers to a 9-1 record as a starter, finishing the season with 2,238 yards passing, 705 rushing and 40 total touchdowns against six interceptions while completing 66.4 percent of his passes. The NJCAA named Locksley its Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American.
Watson eventually brought Locksley in for an official visit at Pittsburgh. Locksley also held offers from New Mexico, Marshall and New Mexico State. Ole Miss and Indiana showed interest late in the process.
Locksley decided on UTEP. A program that finished 0-12 a year prior, Locksley and the Miners know a bit about struggle. But Locksley's decision was more nuanced than that. Strohmeier said his players often look for the best conference or team instead of fit when being recruited out of JUCO. Locksley told Strohmeier often he wanted a place where he belonged.
"It's part of growing up," Strohmeier said.
UTEP presented an opportunity for Locksley with a new staff. He already knew offensive coordinator Mike Canales, who had recruited Locksley to Tennessee. Head coach Dana Dimel made the biggest impact, however.
"He was the only coach, in my opinion, that recruited me that didn't necessarily judge me off my Texas experience," Locksley said. "Whereas some of the other head coaches I met with on Sundays (during visits), um, it felt real judgmental. I kind of felt like they were using it as a negative instead of seeing the positive of me coming through all those trials and tribulations."
Kia remembers buying Kai the loudest alarm clock she could when he first arrived at Texas in order to jolt him out of early-morning lethargy. Now, she's not even sure if Locksley needs an alarm clock to awaken. The immaturity that started early in high school – fueled by his recruiting celebrity – is mostly edged away. Kai spends Sundays at church, and he often speaks to youth groups in a city he's known for less than four months.
"That never happened – ever," Kia said. "It's just that different."
Kai wears a silver necklace with an angel pennant daily, a piece he originally purchased for Meiko. "That's my guardian angel," Kai said.
Meiko's death came at crossroad of life for Locksley. Buried on the depth chart, fighting for his last chance, Kai could've spun out of control following the loss of his brother. Instead, Kai said the moment helped remove some of the needless baggage from his life. Kai's relationship with his dad now is stronger than ever. It's sharpened Kai's love for football, and helped him focus entirely on what's needed for off-field success.
El Paso is 578 miles away from Austin. UTEP is a University of Texas system school.
This isn't where Kai anticipated going. It's also where he feels ready to begin again.
"Each moment matters," Locksley said. "When you miss the fine details that's when everything collapses. … I realized I love this game. I'd do anything to be great at this game, whether it's going through hell in back. I feel like that's what I went through on my journey. I feel like mentally it's put me back up to par with my physical talent.
"No going backwards."
