Skyler Locklear will be Missouri State’s newest starting quarterback. The fifth-year transfer UTEP will lead the Bears into their first game against Texas A&M on Sept. 5.
Here’s everything you need to know about Missouri State’s newest signal caller:
What does Skyler Locklear bring to Missouri State?
This will be the final season of college football for Locklear. The 5-foot-11 quarterback will try to bring the Bears to a bowl game for the second consecutive season.
Locklear spent the previous two seasons at UTEP, where he posted a 4-12 record as a starter.
Locklear beat our Henry Belin IV for the starting role. Belin is also a fifth-year transfer out of Duke.
For the past week, Locklear has run the first-team offense and become someone
the team can 'rally around,' according to head coach Casey Woods.
Last season, Locklear started the final seven games for UTEP. He threw for 1,418 yards, completing 55.5% of his throws, along with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
When he suits up against Texas A&M, Locklear has experience against Power Four schools. He has started against Nebraska and Tennessee, both in 2024.
Success on the move
One of Locklear's greatest strengths is his speed. He can get around defenders with ease in broken-play scenarios or on designed runs.
Locklear provided one of the best naked bootlegs in college football last season. At the goal line, Locklear delivered a great play action and waltzed into the end zone against Sam Houston State.
What you can expect this fall Bears fans:
— Liam (@liamkeating7) August 20, 2026
Such a sick play fake from QB1 Skyler Locklear: pic.twitter.com/pa8IfFnlfM
Locklear rushed for a UTEP record eight touchdowns from a quarterback in 2025. He rushed for 490 yards, with 232 of those yards coming from scrambling, according to PFF.
He picked up 34 first downs on the ground, with 19 rushes going for over 10 yards. If chaos ensues, Locklear has the legs to improvise.
Locklear needs strong offensive line play
Missouri State’s offensive line is still battling for certain positions. Woods explained that eight players can feature in a game as of right now. He certainly wants that number to increase.
When Locklear is throwing in a clean pocket, he can dice a defense.
Against Delaware, Locklear threw a 49-yard touchdown pass over the top of the Blue Hens’ secondary. Locklear had over four seconds in the pocket to make the throw.
Last year, Locklear averaged 3.10 seconds per pass with the Miners. For comparison, former quarterback Jacob Clark averaged 2.84 seconds. Clark was sacked 40 times last year, compared with Locklear’s 15.
Clark consistently overcame defensive pressure with elite accuracy and precision, earning him a spot with the Las Vegas Raiders during training camp.
This is why Locklear’s speed and athleticism are so key. If defenses are flooding the pocket, Locklear’s agility will be necessary to avoid sacks. When Locklear was pressured, the play resulted in a sack just 14.7% of the time. Clark's pressure-to-sack rate was 26.7%.
Turnovers must decrease for Locklear
After last week's scrimmage, Woods said Locklear is still 'careless with the ball'. This is where the fifth-year senior must improve for Missouri State to have success.
Locklear threw a career-high 11 interceptions last season. Five of his interceptions came on first down. Running the ball successfully will be another area to lift the burden off of Locklear. With key players like Breezy Dubar and Ramone Green Jr., getting ahead of the chains early is necessary.
Locklear must avoid throwing off of his back foot. This is where he ran into trouble with UTEP last season. Against Sam Houston State, Locklear was close to being sacked. Instead of taking the sack or throwing the ball away, he tossed it across the middle of the field for an easy interception in the red zone.
Conference USA games are known for being close; interceptions can be the difference between a win and a loss.
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: What does Skyler Locklear bring to Missouri State's offense? Here's a breakdown
