TCU head coach Sonny Dykes said his Horned Frogs never “got settled” last year, and the first job in 2024 is to make sure TCU is, well, settled.
TCU finished last season 5-7 and missed a bowl game. After an undefeated regular season in 2022 and a College Football Playoff semifinal win over Michigan — the first in Big 12 history — the Horned Frogs are picking up the pieces in an attempt to, at minimum, get back to a bowl game.
The biggest move of the offseason was seismic from a TCU perspective. Dykes hired former Boise State coach Andy Avalos to be his defensive coordinator and he pitched the Horned Frogs’ 3-3-5 defense for a 4-2-5 defense.
Here’s how things could shake out this season.
TCU OFFENSE: HOOVER AND COMPANY
All signs coming out of Fort Worth lead to Josh Hoover being the starter when TCU travels to Stanford on Aug. 30. He threw for 2,206 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions a year ago. If he falters, Ken Seals, a Vanderbilt transfer, is waiting in the wings.
Wide receivers Savion Williams and J.P. Richardson are the returning stars in the passing game, and Eric McAlister — who followed Avalos from Boise State — will supplement the pair to give Hoover plenty of targets.
Cam Cook likely gets the first shot at taking over the primary running back duties. He’ll run behind an offensive line that is looking to integrate three new starters to help an offense that ranked No. 70 in rushing the football in FBS.
RELATED: Sonny Dykes Knew Michigan Was Stealing Signs Prior to College Football Playoff Game
TCU DEFENSE: A NEW FORMATION
By moving to the 4-2-5, Avalos is taking the Horned Frogs in a new direction. It also means he needs four down lineman to trigger things in the trenches.
Tackle Caleb Fox and end Paul Oyewale return as starters, but Tulane transfer Devean Deal could be a real plus for the unit playing out of the “Stud” position and a player that can help the pass rush.
Namdi Obiazor is the only returning starter at linebacker, but the unity has cultivated depth, both from last year and through the transfer portal. Avery Heim is the only returning starter at cornerback while Bud Clark is the only returning starter at safety. Clark has been a long-time Horned Frog on the back line and his experience will come in hand with the move to the new defensive formation.
TCU SPECIAL TEAMS: NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
It’s rare a team trusts a true freshman to be their place kicker. But, the Horned Frogs are probably leaning that way with Kyle Lemmermann, who was one of the top prep kickers last year. Ethan Craw, the punter, brings experience to the job but is untested as the week-to-week punter.
PREDICTION: TCU GOES TO A BOWL GAME IF …
… it gets off to a good start. The Stanford trip gives the Horned Frogs a chance to win on the road against a power conference team. Then it’s three straight games in DFW — home against Long Island, the Big 12 opener with UCF and then a trip across the Metroplex to SMU. Win all four and the Horned Frogs should be bowling.
The counterpoint is the offense fails to gel quickly, Hoover isn’t able to find consistency behind center and the players don’t take to the new defensive formation. Then things could get dicey.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
