UTEP QB Kai Locksley Reinstated to the Team Following June Arrest

UTEP Athletic Director Jim Senter and head football coach Dana Dimel announced that the suspension to Kai Locksley, stemming from his June arrest on four charges, has been lifted, as he has been reinstated to the football team.

El Paso County case records indicated that the senior quarterback was arrested on June 8th and charged with four crimes: "unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of marijuana, terroristic threat and driving while intoxicated."

In recent weeks, Locksley's court proceedings have been going in his favor. He was suspended by the team following his arrest and will now rejoin the squad as they get ready to head out to Camp Ruidoso this weekend.

Locksley played in nine games for the Miners last year, throwing for 937 yards and rushing for 340 yards, while scoring nine times. He was at the forefront of the team during spring ball and Dimel named him the clear starter following spring practices.

Senior Brandon Jones was named the team's No. 1 starter at quarterback going into fall camp, per media day yesterday.

The team also brought in a pair of JUCO quarterbacks in Isaiah Bravo and Gavin Hardison, whom Dimel believes can also contend for a backup spot in the quarterback depth chart.

Here is what Senter and Dimel said today in a release:

“While the legal process has not come to a complete conclusion, we believe that the final charges against Kai will not be as severe as what has been reported,” Senter said. “Young people make mistakes and it is important that they learn from these mistakes. We believe in restorative justice and feel that Kai will benefit more in the long run by getting the necessary support and guidance from his coaches and teammates, rather than being dismissed from the team.”

“While we welcome Kai back to our football team, I want to make it very clear that he will have a list of expectations placed on him,” Dimel said. “We will keep these expectations in-house, but a zero-tolerance policy will be in effect. The rest is up to Kai, but we’re hopeful that he can come out of all this the best possible person and teammate.”

Once again, we have a quarterback battle for the Miners in anticipation for their first game against Houston Baptist on Aug. 31.