Although certain Big 12 programs became defensive-oriented last season, this conference still remains the purview of offensive-minded coaches and new TCU head coach Sonny Dykes fits the typical conference mold. The more points you can score in 2022, the better your season will be.
As an offensive-type of coach, Sonny Dykes has built a track record of working with great quarterbacks at all of his college coaching stops. Dyke’s QB resume reads like a who’s who of famous play callers and he has brough success with him at every collegiate stop on his way to becoming the head coach at TCU. Stints at Arizona helped produce Nick Foles; at Cal, Sonny Dykes worked with Davis Webb and Jared Goff. As the head coach at SMU, Dykes was able to turn around the Mustang offense and in the process revive the playing careers of Shane Buechele and Tanner Mordecai from Texas and Oklahoma, respectively.
The problem right now in Fort Worth is the “lack” of a star, marquee QB which isn’t always a problem. TCU lost out in the transfer portal with top quarterback picks such as Quinn Ewers (ended up at Texas) or Jaxson Dart (transferred to Ole Miss) or Dillon Gabriel who is now heading to Oklahoma. There is still time to find another potential transfer QB for the fall but right now Sonny Dykes and his offensive staff no doubt are looking at giving a group of young men plenty of reps at the QB position when the Horned Frogs open up spring practice on March 22nd.
The top QB candidate still is senior Max Duggan who has started in 29 of the last 32 football games. Duggan finished out last year with 2,048 yards and 16 TD’s to six INT’s. Duggan still should be considered the front-running candidate for starter but many things can happen between now and the end of August. TCU has on its roster a slew of redshirt freshmen including Chandler Morris who actually played in two games last season, including an upset win over Baylor on November 6th. Morris completed 50/76 passes for 695 yards and three TD’s with no interceptions. His playing time and success in a big win could help Morris move up the depth chart this season. Other quarterbacks fighiting for playing time come spring drills are Sam Jackson and incoming freshman Josh Hoover.
There are other QB’s on the current roster inlcuding Trent Battle, Alexander Honig and walk-on Luke Pardee but these players may find themselves learning other positions or becoming content with limited reps; they may also locate the transfer portal and end up at other schools before the fall. At any rate, Sonny Dykes will be called up on to do his ‘QB Whisperer” work again with the Horned Frogs in order to turn around a 5-7 record last season.
