Maryland football recruiting: Kai Locksley still high on the Terps

Hatchling Huddle is a recurring series where we talk to high school players recruited by Maryland or coaches who have Maryland recruits.

Rumors have been flying that four-star Gilman (Md.) quarterback Kai Locksley has been leaning towards not playing for his father (offensive coordinator Mike Locksley) at Maryland, but the quarterback told SB Nation's Bud Elliott this weekend that the Terrapins are still firmly in play.

Speaking at the regional Elite 11 event in D.C., Locksley said Florida State, Auburn, Miami, Texas, Ole Miss, and "Maryland, of course," were recruiting him the hardest -- six of the 10 schools on his recently narrowed list.

A four-star prospect by the 247sports composite, Locksley is considered the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback in the nation and the fourth-best player in the state of Maryland. Oregon, Florida State and Auburn were his most recent visits, and he says he's planning on visiting Texas and Baylor in May before cutting his list down to six schools -- all six of which would receive additional visits.

Locksley's main recruiter in College Park is head coach Randy Edsall -- his father is admirably acting only as a parent in his son's recruitment -- and the prospect sees a lot of potential in the Terrapin program.

"They got a lot of hometown support there," he said. "I'd have a great supporting cast there because they're going to bring in great players, and, I mean, who can develop me better than my father?"

Locksley said the potential for that development is paramount to him, and that, along with his relationship with the staff, will be most important in his decision.

"[Most important to me is] the relationship with their quarterbacks coach," he said. "That's going to be my father, whoever it is, for the next four years. I've got to know I can trust him, I've got to know he can develop me and have me ready for my aspirations to go in the NFL. Also just team chemistry, there's gotta be family, everybody's got to get along, everybody's got to want the same thing."

Luckily for Maryland, their quarterbacks coach happens to be Locksley's actual father, but the prospect said that will not play a factor in his recruitment.

"It's a recruiting process," he said. "Everybody starts out evenly, whether your father or brother or anybody is on the team, at least with me, everybody's going to have their chance and everybody's going to have their shot. It's what I like, nothing is predetermined."

Locksley is planning on making his decision near the start of his senior year at Gilman.