LAS VEGAS — TCU’s defense was in the bottom half of the major statistical categories in college football last season and the addition of defensive coordinator Andy Avalos could mean a turnaround.
Five starters return for a defense that was No. 100 in the nation in total defense. Former Boise State head coach Andy Avalos is now the defensive coordinator and TCU is moving to a 4-2-5 from a 3-3-5. TCU did great work finding experience defenders in the transfer portal to go with linebacker Namdi Obiazor and safety Bud Clark.
Last year under Joe Gillespie the Horned Frogs used a three-man front. Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes said the four-man front should make the team more versatile defensively, especially after TCU was No. 110 in pass defense a year ago.
“What I love about the four down system is you know you’re playing with two traditional big defensive lineman. But then you can play with a lot of different body types on the edge and that can vary honestly from week to week and based on your opponent,” Dykes said. “It allows you to get a little more speed and more pressure on the field. I love this group of pass rushers that we have. I think that that’s going to be the biggest area of improvement for us.”
TCU is coming off a 5-7 season with a 3-6 record in the Big 12. It was the season after the Horned Frogs became the first Big 12 team to advance to the College Football Playoff’s national championship game, where they lost to Georgia.
The Frogs have nine returning starters and the quarterback position is in flux. Josh Hoover is back but missed time in the spring, which allowed Vanderbilt transfer Ken Seals a chance to get more reps, which could make it a fall competition.
Wide receiver Savion Williams returns. Boise State transfer Eric McCallister and Baylor transfer tight end Drake Dabney could give the starter plenty of weapons. The offensive line has two returning starters and will need transfers to fill out the remainder.
TCU opens the season on Aug. 30 at Stanford, followed by a home opener with Long Island on Sept. 7.
The Horned Frogs play the Big 12’s first game of the season as they host UCF on Sept. 14. That is followed by a non-conference trip to Iron Skillet rival SMU on Sept. 21. TCU dives back into league action on Sept. 28 and travels to Kansas.
The Horned Frogs start October by hosting Houston on Oct. 4, followed by a trip to Utah on Oct. 19 and a home game against Texas Tech on Oct. 26.
In November TCU starts with a trip to Baylor on Nov. 2. The next two games are at home — vs. Oklahoma State on Nov. 9 and vs. Arizona on Nov. 23 — followed by a trip to Cincinnati on Nov. 30.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
