Four-star quarterback Kai Locksley, son of Terrapins football offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, has verbally committed to play at Florida State.

Locksley, a class of 2015 dual-threat signal-caller at Gilman in Baltimore, had narrowed his college choices down to Texas, Florida State and the Terps before choosing the Seminoles July 30. Verbal commitments are in no way binding or official until players sign National Letters of Intent in February.

247Sports was first to report the news, which has since been confirmed by The Baltimore Sun. Locksley retweeted dozens of tweets congratulating him on his commitment to Seminoles that afternoon.

Locksley’s verbal commitment came just before Deondre Francois, another four-star quarterback, declared his intention to play at Florida State.

247Sports tabs Locksley as a dual-threat quarterback or an athlete, meaning pundits believe he might be asked to play another position in college, such as wide receiver. ESPN lists Locksley only as a signal-caller, ranking him as the 11th-best dual-threat quarterback in the country and seventh-best player in the state.

The Terps have one commitment from a quarterback, three-star pocket passer Gage Shaffer, for the class of 2015. And they already have several young options under center behind senior starter C.J. Brown.

Redshirt freshman Shane Cockerille was a four-star recruit in 2013 and helmed the offense at Gilman before Locksley. Incoming freshman Will Ulmer also received high marks in high school, and while he might transition to wide receiver, he starred at quarterback for Saint John’s College High School last season.

NIGEL KING TRANSFERS 

Terps wide receiver Nigel King was granted a release to transfer from this university on Friday, the athletic department announced.

With the return of wide receivers Deon Long and Stefon Diggs from their respective leg injuries, King likely faced a move into a backup role entering the 2014 season. In coach Randy Edsall’s preseason depth chart, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound King was listed second behind Long. Meanwhile, junior Marcus Leak was listed as the starting No. 3 wide receiver. 

In the absence of Diggs and Long for much of last season, King caught 33 passes for 450 yards and four touchdowns, a team high, as one of Brown’s most consistent targets. 

“We wish Nigel well,” Edsall said. “He graduated, which is the No. 1 priority for him. We’ll just wish him well and focus on the guys that are here.”

TERPS OPEN PRACTICE 

The Terps opened preseason practice on Monday with a two-hour session at the team’s on-campus facility.

Diggs returned to the field for his first legitimate action since breaking his leg in a game against Wake Forest in October. He caught several passes from Brown while also participating in kick-returning drills.  

The most intense position battles seem to be shaking out at tight end and running back. Sophomores Wes Brown and Jacquille Veii and juniors Albert Reid and Brandon Ross all still have a shot at the starting position in the backfield. At tight end, redshirt freshman Derrick Hayward and sophomores Andrew Isaacs are locked in a three-way competition. 

“That will start to shake out,” Edsall said of the tight-end situation to The Washington Post. “I think Andrew had a really good summer. He’s a guy that can give us those opportunities that we’re looking for. Derrick’s getting better, putting on weight. So again, P.J. didn’t have as good of a summer as those guys. So hopefully same thing, separation will take place here early in camp.”