Just Drew: Part Two of an In-Depth Series on Mizzou QB Drew Lock
7/12/2018 5:00:00 AM | Football
Meet the side of Mizzou's QB that few get to see
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
J.D. Salinger's famous fictional character Holden Caulfield was never a fan of "phonies." Missouri senior quarterback Drew Lock shares that sentiment.
"I hate phonies. Just be genuine and don't treat me different because I play football. If you introduce me to someone you know, please don't call me Drew Lock. I'm just Drew."
Drew's younger sister, Claire, followed in her brother's footsteps as a star athlete at Lee's Summit High School. She often wondered, though, did she get so much attention because of her basketball ability or because of her sibling?
"I remember hearing that a quarterback from one of the other Kansas City high schools wanted to ask me out," said Claire, an incoming freshman on the University of Missouri-Kansas City women's basketball team. "I was flattered. Then I heard it was because he wanted to date Drew Lock's sister. So, eventually, he does ask me out, and I said, 'Maybe you should get my brother's phone number instead.' "
When told of the interaction, Drew was thrilled.
"Savage," he said. "I was so proud of her for putting him in his place."
Lock takes pride in reading people and has developed radar for ulterior motives.
Or, as Connor McGovern, a former MU teammate now in his third year as an offensive lineman for the Denver Broncos, put it: "When you put a guy like Drew on a pedestal, it makes him uncomfortable. It's really weird. People don't realize he's a normal guy."
Evan Boehm, now with the Arizona Cardinals, was also on that offensive line with McGovern. He too respects Drew's humility. "His parents have done a great job of preparing him for every situation. Drew is a very level-headed person."
Now headed into his final season at MU, Lock knows part of his place is in the public eye. There's no place to hide in a college town where you are the face of the football program.
Murry's is a popular Columbia restaurant. Wednesdays are extremely busy, as live music adds to the atmosphere. Recently, Lock was scheduled to meet a friend and was late arriving. The place was overflowing, with an hour wait to be seated. Heads turned as he waded through the crowd. He could feel the focus shift in the room.
"It's awkward, but I'm getting used to it," he said.
Actually, Lock wasn't even the biggest name in the joint on this night. Missouri basketball legend Norm Stewart was striding toward a table of 10 with a glass of wine in each hand.
"You drinking double-fisted tonight, Norm," a patron asked.
Stewart responded: "You would think a person would recognize when a real gentleman is carrying his wife's drink along with his own."
Norm is still Missouri's brightest star. Lock's legacy is still growing, while the "true" Drew remains relatively unknown outside his football family.
"He's very empathetic," said his mother, Laura. "He's been a great big brother to Claire. They don't let on that they are close, but they really are. When Claire was a freshman at Lee's Summit and Drew was a senior, Drew made it clear she was off limits to date."
Savage.
"He's a super sensitive guy — a big softie," Claire said. "I remember one time when he shot a bird with his BB gun while it was flying. It was a challenge, and he wanted to see if he could do it. After he hit it, he was so bummed out."
"I think he stayed in his room for two days feeling so guilty about shooting that bird," Laura added. "To this day, he won't kill any animal. If there's a spider in the room, he'll shoo it out with a piece of paper."
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Drew's father, Andy, has some familiarity with life as a Division I athlete. He lettered as an offensive lineman at Missouri from 1986-89.
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid was Missouri's offensive line coach during Andy's senior season.
"I often said I wish I could have coached him for four years," Reid said. "He was very intelligent and athletic. That's a perfect combination."
"He was very popular with his teammates. He had a big personality," added Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter, who was MU's offensive coordinator during Lock's senior year. "Andy's athleticism was outstanding for an offensive guard."
The elder Lock was predicted to be a mid-round NFL draft pick, but a leg injury at the end of his senior season eliminated that option. But, just as he advised his kids, he kept battling toward his goal. He signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent, joining a team coached by Bill Parcells that featured Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
"I had been in the Giants camp for a little while, and one day Lawrence looked at me and asked, 'What's your name? When did you get in?' " Andy recalled.
Andy Lock didn't tell his son many stories about his brief time in the NFL, but that story stuck with Drew.
"My dad had been there for three weeks and LT was just noticing him? When he told me that part, I decided that wasn't going to happen to me," Drew said. "I was never going to be overlooked. I was going to be a difference-maker."
Andy never got to play in a college bowl game and didn't make an NFL roster, but that doesn't mean his experience hasn't helped his son. Particularly during Drew's freshman year, he explained that linemen played harder for quarterbacks they like and respect.
"That's something Andy can really relay to his son — help him understand how his teammates feel, help him to earn their respect," Reid said.
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When he came to Missouri, Lock's talent was obvious, but he was deferential to his older teammates, maybe to a fault.
"When he first arrived in Columbia he was 'Little Drew.' He seemed so young," said former Missouri tight end Sean Culkin, who is entering his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers. "Evan Boehm was our senior center, and he really worked hard to help Drew's confidence. That first year he was a boy. The sophomore season, we all saw him becoming a man."
Now that he's a senior, Lock is the one dispensing advice.
"He spends a lot of time with the younger guys, making sure they are comfortable and knowledgeable with everything that is going on with our program," MU coach Barry Odom said. "That's leadership."
Lock's brand of leadership, though, comes with a side of silliness. Offensive lineman Paul Adams, one of Lock's closest friends on the team, described the quarterback as a "goofball" who likes to play practical jokes, dance in the locker room and refer to everyone, including himself, as "Goose," for reasons unexplained. He's even been referred to as the team DJ.
"If there's an aux cord, Drew's on it. He's in charge of the music," added Adams.
Having a high-profile quarterback puts a lot of responsibility on the players around him. And it's not always in the form of pass protection. His teammates, both past and present, respect his privacy. So, to help conceal is identity many of them list his name in their contacts as an alias.
"He's J.D. McCoy in my phone," explained Boehm. In case you are wondering, McCoy was the can't miss quarterback on the television series Friday Night Lights.
Lock has a special bond with his offensive linemen. Guard Kevin Pendleton said Lock is the only outsider allowed on the offensive line's Twitter group chat. Every Thursday during the season, Lock joins his offensive line at G&D Pizza for some bonding.
Adams makes light of Lock's relationship with his offensive line.
"We are close, no doubt, but it has consequences," Adams said. "I mean, anyone that's going to hang out with a bunch of fat linemen in public is going to take a five- to six-point hit on the cool meter."
Cool is part of Lock's personality. He's got the swagger of a successful quarterback, but he's never forgotten how to treat people.
"I remember Dr. (John) Faulkenberry, the high school principal, telling me how Drew stopped everything he was doing in order to help a fellow student with a challenging situation." Laura Lock said. "He finds those places where he can be the real Drew and show his sensitive side."
Those places are becoming harder to find, especially with all the national attention surrounding his upcoming senior season. Last year, Lock launched an SEC record 44 touchdown passes, was first team all SEC, and led Missouri to the Texas Bowl.
Claire concluded there is nothing phony about her big brother, whom she has called "Bubby" since childhood.
"I'm really proud of how he doesn't let outside distractions get to him," she said. "He has an amazing identity outside of football. He's always going to be 'Bubby' to me, but to everyone else he should just be Drew."
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Just Drew is the second of a multi-part series about Drew Lock's journey from Lee's Summit, to starting at Mizzou as a freshman and ultimately resetting the SEC's single season passing TD mark a year ago. Keep checking MUTigers.com for updates in the series. Below is a feature that ran on Drew's deep connections to Mizzou last fall.
Mizzou Football will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium. Fans wishing to purchase season tickets can do so at MUTigers.com/FBTix or by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the team on social media (@MizzouFootball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook).
