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Life after Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Rockwall QB Braedyn Locke aces first test without one of the state’s all-time best receivers

Locke, a junior in his second season as the starting quarterback, has multiple Division I scholarship offers.

Life after Jaxon Smith-Njigba was inevitable, but with that eventual reality came a question: How would Rockwall, especially its junior starting quarterback, do without one of the best weapons the state’s ever seen?

At first glance, the Yellowjackets will be more than OK.

Last Friday, Rockwall used a fast-paced attack in last Friday’s 59-40 win over 6A newcomer Denton Braswell, and it was the play of Yellowjackets junior quarterback Braedyn Locke that may have been the most important takeaway.

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Locke, entering his second year as the starter, completed 23 of 37 passes for 372 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also ran for a score, as well.

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In total, Rockwall had 633 yards of offense, including 209 yards rushing. The Yellowjackets ran the ball 48 times compared to 42 passes, a type of balance that first year head coach Trey Brooks was hoping for. Brooks' second-year starting quarterback was a big reason why that was possible, he said.

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“His understand of the offense is on another level,” Brooks said of Locke.

“I just trust him so much out there making decisions … it really is the reason we’re able to do what we’re able to do.”

It makes sense that Locke would know the ins and outs of the offense. It is, in fact, Locke’s second year in the same system, despite a head coaching change. Brooks was the team’s offensive coordinator before he was promoted to replace Rodney Webb -- who’s now at Denton Guyer -- as the school’s head coach.

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There’s plenty of familiarity there. Brooks said he and his quarterback have a great relationship. Brooks knows what he has in his quarterback, and he also knows what his quarterback is missing.

Smith-Njigba, now a freshman at Ohio State, graduated as the best player in school history, Webb said last season. He also left as one of the best players the state has ever seen. The 2019 Gatorade Texas Player of the Year had 2,161 receiving yards last season, bringing his career total to 5,403 yards -- third on the state’s all-time list.

Before Locke reached high school, he did the math and figured out he’d have a chance to play with Smith-Njigba when Smith-Njigba was a senior and he was a sophomore. Having one of the state’s best all-time receivers was a huge boost for the first year starter. Locke threw for 4,282 yards, 53 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

“Jaxon would make any quarterback look great,” said Brooks, who was Smith-Njigba’s offensive coordinator. “That’s just how he is. I mean, he makes everybody look good.”

So how good would Locke -- a three-star recruit with multiple scholarship offers, including Miami -- look without Smith-Njigba? It was a question Brooks said he and Locke were aware of coming into this year. He said it even motivated Locke.

“It’s made him sharpen and hone his skills even more,” Brooks said of Locke. “You do have more of a margin for error when Jaxon is out there because he’s such a phenomenal player, so getting on the same page with the other receivers and learning them and their abilities, Braedyn did such a great job of that.”

It showed in Week 1. Locke found eight different receivers, including Jax Johnson – who finished with six catches for 173 yards and a touchdown – and Brennen Ray, who had four catches and three touchdown receptions of his own.

Even without Smith-Njigba, Locke had a big game. It was a testament to his own ability and one collection of data to help answer how he would do without one of the state’s best-ever players in his arsenal. It could also be a sign of more to come this year for a quarterback who is a relentless student of the game, Brooks said.

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“He had a great year last year, but he wants to keep improving,” Brooks said of Locke. “He’s for sure not satisfied; he’s not that type of kid.”

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