The Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs football team will travel to Colorado to open the season on September 2. The road game will be the first for newly-hired head coach Sonny Dykes. Dykes was most recently head coach for SMU after a four-year stint at Cal Berkeley.
A native of Big Spring, Texas, Dykes coached high school baseball and football before becoming a college-level coach. He was the receivers coach from 2000 to 2006 at Texas Tech, where his father was the head coach from 1984 to 1999.
Dykes told media on Monday that the Horned Frogs would likely play all three quarterbacks against the Buffaloes.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” Dykes said. “Obviously, Max Duggan has a significant résumé. He has played a lot of snaps in the last three years here at TCU, has played very well. … Chandler is the same way. You look at some of the games he played in last year; he played exceptional[ly]. So they both have experience, and they both have done it.”
Max Duggan has been the primary quarterback in the last three seasons and has 5,920 yards of completions with 41 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 32 games. After Duggan suffered a foot injury last season, Chandler Morris, a transfer from Oklahoma State, got a start and totaled an eye-popping 531 total yards in a victory over Baylor. Sam Jackson is also expected to see playing time after completing 1-1 attempts for 62 yards in a loss to Oklahoma last season.
“It’s a fun group. I like the guys a lot,” Dykes said. “Sam certainly brings a different element to the room. … I would anticipate all three of them playing, and my expectation is all three of them will play well.”
Kendre Miller will likely carry the bulk of the run plays after the announcement that Florida State transfer Corey Wren will not suit up due to undisclosed reasons. Redshirt freshman Trent Battle and Louisiana University transfer Emani Bailey will share snaps with Miller.
On defense, the biggest question mark may be that of Tre’vius Hodges-Tomlinson, who has stood out at cornerback in the last two seasons at TCU. He is dealing with an injury that kept him in a walking boot and unable to practice earlier in August.
“Yeah, he’s good to go; he’s had a great week of practice and been healthy,” Dykes said of Hodges-Tomlinson’s status ahead of Friday’s opener. Hodges-Tomlinson is listed as co-starter against the Buffaloes. Should Hodges-Tomlinson not be able to go on game day, he will be replaced by Kee’yon Stewart.
When the Horned Frogs line up in Boulder, Colorado, on Friday, it will be the first time the two teams have met. The game kicks off at 9 p.m. Central and will be broadcast on ESPN. The Frogs will host Tarleton State for the home opener on September 10, then will go on the road to face SMU for the Iron Skillet game on September 24.
It will be the first opportunity that Dykes will have to face the football program he formerly led to success before departing for TCU in November 2021.