Locke attended Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Arizona, where he played football as a punter, kicker, and wide receiver.

As a senior, Locke averaged 43.6 yards on 38 punts with 10 inside the 20-yard line, kicked 47 touchbacks on 54 kickoffs, converted 29 of 32 extra point attempts, and made 11 of 20 field goals.

Locke attended the University of California, Los Angeles and played for the UCLA Bruins football team from 2008 to 2012.

In 2011, Locke took over for field goal and extra point duties in a few games following an injury to UCLA's starting placekicker.

[4] It was speculated at the time that this move was made in order to make more room for the salary cap, as Kluwe was due 1.45 million in 2013.

For the start of his rookie season, Locke wore number 12 until Week 5 when the Vikings signed quarterback Josh Freeman.

[12] Locke "got hooked on punting" after attending a camp run by former NFL punter Ray Guy when he was in high school.