Former Cleveland High football standout Skyler Locklear of Clayton will be the starting quarterback for UTEP when the Miners face Nebraska on Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both schools.
Locklear won a “neck and neck” competition for the starting job, according to UTEP coach Scotty Walden, who announced the decision Thursday. He beat out Cade McConnell, a junior college transfer who arrived at UTEP last season.
Nebraska is expected to start true freshman Danny Raiola in its quarterback spot. Raiola, from Georgia, was the top quarterback recruit in the class of 2024.
Locklear had spent the past two years at Austin Peay, seeing limited action a year ago for the Governors. He followed his head coach to El Paso when Walden was announced as the next coach of the Miners last winter.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐒𝐤𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫
Counting down the days to our home opener!
Don't forget to purchase your tickets for Sep. 7th
🎟️ https://t.co/UuBHJSoNKS#PicksUp | #WinTheWest pic.twitter.com/iTNzuWMH9z
— UTEP Football (@UTEPFB) August 21, 2024
While at Cleveland High, Locklear completed 452-of-716 passes for 7,063 yards and 78 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,253 yards and 28 more scores.
Cleveland played in the 3A state title game in spring 2021, falling to Mount Tabor. Locklear threw for 189 yards and a touchdown in that contest, earning his team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player honor.
Locklear (5-11, 195) was considered a three-star prospect while in high school, per 247Sports. UTEP plays in the FBS Mountain West Conference.
