Texas A&M’s first opponent just gave the Aggies a clearer picture of what week one might look like.
Missouri State announced Skyler Locklear as its starting quarterback, and that decision gives Texas A&M a better read on the matchup as the Aggies continue fall camp under head coach Mike Elko. With the 2026 season approaching and a roster that has to be reloaded after losing a number of key contributors from 2025, the staff is already zeroing in on the opener.
Locklear brings a dual-threat profile to the Bears’ offense, and he arrives as a transfer from UTEP for his first season in the program. He earned the job during fall camp for first-year head coach Casey Woods, and the expectation is that this could be a real breakout year for him.
His numbers at UTEP show both the upside and the volatility. In 2024, Locklear passed for 1,583 yards with 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. In 2025, he finished with 1,418 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
He also made his mark as a runner. Locklear rushed for 237 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, then took another step forward on the ground in 2025, when he set a program record with 10 rushing touchdowns and totaled 633 rushing yards.
That matters for Texas A&M because the Aggies are facing a clear talent gap in the matchup, but week one rarely plays out cleanly. With so many new faces on the defensive side of the ball, discipline has to be a priority from the start.
Locklear’s turnover numbers are worth watching, too. Over the last two seasons, he has thrown 17 interceptions against 23 touchdowns, which points to a quarterback who can be forced into mistakes when defenders get him to throw into traffic. That could be a useful opening for an Aggies secondary that was one of the worst interception defenses in the country last season.
The other key for Texas A&M will be keeping Locklear from turning broken plays into big ones. That job falls on the new-look defensive front, which has to get pressure early and keep him contained in the pocket. If the Aggies can do that, the chances of creating turnovers should improve as well.
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