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The first week of the transfer portal has been a good one for TCU football, as the Horned Frogs addressed most of their needs.
Not only did TCU land multiple players from the portal who should be immediate contributors, the program also re-signed most of its key pieces from last year. As it stands, quarterback Josh Hoover is the only full-time starter who has entered the transfer portal from TCU.
Player retention is never going to dominate headlines like player acquisition during college’s version of free agency, but TCU head coach Sonny Dykes has stuck to his vision of wanting the Horned Frogs to be a developmental program.
Coming off two straight nine-win seasons, Dykes has seen enough confirmation on the field that TCU has plenty of talent already inside the building; most of it just needs to continue to develop.
So what have we learned from TCU’s approach during the first week of portal season?
Frogs find their quarterback
The biggest addition so far has been Harvard quarterback Jaden Craig, who has NFL upside with his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame. Craig owns most of Harvard’s passing records and led the program to its first appearance in the FCS playoffs with 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. Craig doesn’t run often, but he has 11 career rushing touchdowns.
On paper, it’s a perfect partnership between the program and player. TCU lands an experienced quarterback who still has upside, but shouldn’t scare off freshmen quarterbacks Adam Schobel and Jack Daulton. Craig gets a chance to compete at the Power Four level in his final season, and he’ll also play in new offensive coordinator’s Gordon Sammis’ system.
Sammis runs a pro-style scheme that prioritizes a strong run game and being efficient with the passing attack. Sammis molded UConn’s Joe Fagnano into one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. What could he do with a talent like Craig?
Internal approach at the skill positions
Despite losing key offensive pieces like All-American wide receiver Eric McAlister, wideout Joseph Manjack and running back Kevorian Barnes, TCU opted not to depend on the portal to replace their production.
The Horned Frogs did sign South Alabama wide receiver Jeremy Scott and Division II running back Landon Walker for depth, but it’s clear TCU will be relying on some of its younger players to take a jump.
At running back, Jeremy Payne emerged as the potential starter down the stretch with 100-yard games against Houston and Cincinnati, plus the game-winning touchdown against USC in the Alamo Bowl. True freshman Jon Denman showed he has the power to complement Payne’s speed. Those two should get most of the touches next year.
At wide receiver, the program re-signed Jordan Dwyer, who was second on the team with 730 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He slides into the role of lead receiver, a job he filled at Idaho, and has All-Big 12 potential. The Horned Frogs are also bullish on the potential of freshmen wide receivers Terry Shelton, Dozie Ezukanma and Ed Small.
Rebuilding the offensive line
The strength of TCU’s transfer haul so far is on the offensive line, as the Horned Frogs landed two players with starting experience.
Oklahoma State guard Noah McKinney transferred to TCU during the fall shortly after head coach Mike Gundy was fired in Stillwater. Next, the Horned Frogs signed Florida International transfer Jaheim Buchanon earlier this week.
McKinney started seven games for the Cowboys this season before entering the portal and projects as an immediate starter. The same can be said for Buchanon, who was a second-team All-Conference USA selection for the Panthers this season.
These two signings, plus the return of Cade Bennett, give TCU a wealth of experience in the interior offensive line.
At tackle, Ben Taylor-Whitfield returns at right tackle, but who will man the left side with Ryan Hughes recovering from a season-ending injury? Sophomore Witten Van Hoy may get the first crack next season, or the Horned Frogs could look to add a tackle in the final week of the portal.
Building defensive depth
TCU needed to replace a plethora of stars on defense with the departure of All-Big 12 safety Bud Clark, All-Big 12 linebackers Devean Deal and Kaleb Elarms-Orr and linebacker Namdi Obiazor. The Horned Frogs also needed to strengthen the cornerback room, which was the glaring weakness of the team.
The biggest splash on defense was the signing of safety Jacob Fields from Louisiana Tech. Fields was voted Co-Defensive Player of the Year in Conference USA and should slide into Clark’s position at free safety. All-Big 12 safety Jamel Johnson announced his return to the program, and he’ll lead the unit next season.
The Horned Frogs lost nickel safety Austin Jordan, but TCU returns Kylin Jackson and promising freshman Julius Simms. Those two will likely compete for the spot during the spring and fall camp.
The Horned Frogs have only signed one linebacker so far with Virginia Tech’s Michael Short. He was a productive reserve with the Hokies and North Carolina, and now he’ll have a chance for his biggest role of his career. TCU will bet big on the development of Max Carroll to take over Elarms-Orr or Obiazor’s spots; the former four-star recruit has flashed his talent during his time on the field.
Finally, it’s been mostly quiet on the defensive line, as TCU re-signed its entire front and was able to convince Paul Oyewale to not enter the portal after his agency initially told reporters he intended to do so in December. The Horned Frogs did add Western Kentucky edge rusher Koron Hayward and Texas Tech reserve Cheta Ofili to compete at stud, the hybrid pass rushing position that Deal played.
Both players have great size and upside.
What’s left on the checklist?
The only true position of need remaining for the Horned Frogs had been cornerback, but consider that box checked.
TCU landed Kalen Carroll on Friday to bolster one of the starting spots. He started over a dozen games during his time at Cincinnati and also had 52 tackles and two interceptions with Central Michigan this season.
The Horned Frogs then added Colorado transfer Teon Parks on Sunday. TCU also returns starter Vernon Glover and promising freshman Gil Jackson, giving the Horned Frogs better depth at the position.
Adding another linebacker with starting experience at the Group of Five level would provide more stability to that position, as TCU will be leaning on Carroll, Short, reserve Michael Teason and a bunch of redshirt freshmen next season if things remain the same.
An offensive tackle would be nice, but isn’t necessarily a need.
The Horned Frogs got most of their important work done during the first week of the portal, and now the program will aim to finish strong with the portal closing on Friday.
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Steven Johnson
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