Kai Locksley Bio
Kai Locksley (born November 17, 1996) is an American professional football quarterback and wide receiver. He currently plays for the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL). Locksley has also spent time with the Memphis Showboats, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Edmonton Elks, and the Miami Dolphins. Standing 6 ft 4 in and weighing around 207 lb, he is known for his dual-threat ability as both a passer and a runner.
Over the course of his career, Locksley has competed at the NFL, CFL, and UFL levels, building a journeyman résumé that began with college stops at Texas, two junior colleges, and UTEP. He was rated a four-star high school recruit before launching a college path that eventually led him to professional football in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Kai Locksley was born on November 17, 1996, in Westport, New York. He grew up in Washington, D.C., in a household with a strong football background, as the son of longtime college coach Mike Locksley, who serves as the head coach of the University of Maryland. The coaching influence of his father gave Locksley an early understanding of the game and the discipline required to play it at a high level.
He attended the Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland, where he played both football and basketball. As a junior, he passed for 875 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 795 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning second-team Private School All-State honors from the Associated Press. He repeated as a second-team All-State selection as a senior after passing for 915 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for 1,050 yards and 17 touchdowns, establishing himself as a four-star recruit.
Heading into his senior season, Locksley initially committed to Florida State before flipping his pledge to the University of Texas shortly before National Signing Day. That decision launched his multi-stop college career and set the tone for a journey that would take him through several programs before reaching the professional ranks.
Path to American Football
Locksley began his college career at Texas, where he redshirted his freshman season and was moved to wide receiver the following year. Looking for a clearer path at quarterback, he transferred to Arizona Western College, spending one semester with the program before initially committing to Marshall. He later changed course and transferred to Iowa Western Community College, joining the Reivers for his lone season at that level.
With Iowa Western, Locksley completed 176 of 265 passes for 2,238 yards, throwing 20 touchdowns against six interceptions, while also rushing for 705 yards and 20 scores. His production earned him the Spalding NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year award. He then committed to the University of Texas at El Paso to finish his college eligibility, splitting time between quarterback duties and rushing contributions across two seasons with the Miners.
At UTEP, Locksley made eight starts at quarterback in his first year, passing for 937 yards and three touchdowns while adding 340 rushing yards and six scores. As a senior, he played 11 games, throwing for 1,329 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions, and rushed for 535 yards and five touchdowns. His steady improvement at the FBS level helped position him for an opportunity in the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
Kai Locksley Career
Early Career (2021)
Locksley signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on March 22, 2021, after going unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft. He worked as a wide receiver during the preseason, looking to make the roster through versatility. His time with the Dolphins ended during final roster cuts on August 31, 2021, when he was waived.
Although his Dolphins stint was brief, the experience gave Locksley his first taste of a professional locker room and confirmed his interest in continuing his career. He quickly turned his attention north of the border, where the Canadian Football League offered an opportunity to play quarterback at a high level.
Edmonton Elks Era (2022–2023)
Locksley signed with the Edmonton Elks of the CFL on January 12, 2022, beginning the most extensive professional stretch of his career to that point. He spent two seasons with the organization, primarily contributing as a runner and rotational playmaker out of the backfield. Across his time in Edmonton, he completed five of eight passes for 50 yards, while rushing 55 times for 122 yards and seven touchdowns.
His most publicized moment with the Elks came early in the 2023 season. With the offense struggling in a Week 3 game against the Toronto Argonauts, head coach Chris Jones turned to Locksley in the third quarter. On his first snap, he fumbled the ball, leading to another Toronto touchdown. The following day, on April 25, 2023, Locksley was released from the team.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Era (2023)
On July 5, 2023, Locksley signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, joining the CFL midseason. He appeared in 15 games for Hamilton, recording 26 carries for 31 yards and two rushing touchdowns, along with three receptions for 98 yards and one receiving touchdown. His versatility as both a runner and a pass-catcher made him a useful piece of the Tiger-Cats’ offensive game plan.
Locksley became a free agent on February 13, 2024, when his contract expired. With limited quarterback opportunities available, he shifted his focus back to the U.S. football landscape and the spring league circuit, where several former CFL players had found new professional homes.
Memphis Showboats Era (2025)
On February 3, 2025, Locksley signed with the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League, returning to professional football in the United States. The move allowed him to continue his career as a quarterback and wide receiver at a developmental level with hopes of working his way back into a larger role. He was listed on the Showboats roster during the 2025 UFL season.
Houston Gamblers Era (2026–Present)
On January 13, 2026, Locksley was selected by the Houston Gamblers in the 2026 UFL draft, beginning his tenure with the franchise. Wearing jersey number 10, he is listed as an active wide receiver on the Gamblers’ roster. His move to Houston marked a fresh opportunity within the UFL as he continues to chase a more prominent professional role.
Driving Style and Strengths
Locksley is best known for his dual-threat profile, combining a strong arm with the ability to make plays as a runner. His time at quarterback in the CFL showcased his willingness to attack defenses on designed runs, while his wide-receiver experience with the Dolphins and Gamblers has helped him refine his route-running and blocking. His size, listed at 6 ft 4 in and around 207 lb, gives him the frame to absorb contact and the length to compete for the ball in traffic.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Locksley’s professional career came during his lone season at Iowa Western, when he was named the Spalding NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 20 touchdowns and rushing for 20 more. He also made headlines for his mid-game relief appearance with the Edmonton Elks in 2023, a brief but high-visibility moment that ultimately led to his release. His signing with the Houston Gamblers in 2026 represents his latest milestone, continuing a career path that has spanned the NFL, CFL, and UFL.
Kai Locksley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Locksley is the son of Mike Locksley, the head football coach at the University of Maryland. His older brother, Meiko Locksley, played college football at New Mexico, Iowa Western, and Lackawanna College. The family’s deep ties to football shaped Kai’s early development as a player and continue to influence his path through the sport.
Personal Life
Beyond football, Locksley faced a difficult personal chapter in 2017 when his older brother, Meiko, was murdered in Columbia, Maryland. The tragedy became part of the family’s public story and underscored the challenges the Locksley family has navigated outside the sport. In June 2019, Kai was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, marijuana possession, making terroristic threats, and illegal possession of a firearm, leading to a suspension from the UTEP football team before he was reinstated in August 2019.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 UFL season marked Locksley’s return to American-based professional football after his time in the CFL. Signed by the Memphis Showboats on February 3, 2025, he contributed to a roster that was working to establish itself within the spring league structure. His role combined elements of quarterback and wide-receiver duties, mirroring the versatility that has defined much of his professional career.
Throughout the season, Locksley served as a dependable rotational piece, offering the Showboats a multi-positional option on offense. His CFL experience and familiarity with professional systems allowed him to adapt quickly, even as he competed for snaps in a crowded depth chart. The season provided a platform for him to showcase his continued development as a playmaker.
Looking ahead, Locksley was selected by the Houston Gamblers in the 2026 UFL draft on January 13, 2026, signaling the next chapter of his professional journey. The move positions him to take on a fresh role with a new organization, with hopes of building on the experience gained in 2025 and carving out a larger role in the UFL’s evolving landscape.