TCU begins spring football practices on Monday
TCU returns to the football field Monday as the Horned Frogs open spring football practice at 8 a.m.
Coach Sonny Dykes is aiming to build off a historic first season as TCU became the first program from the state of Texas to reach the College Football Playoff and the first from the Big 12 Conference to play in the CFP National Championship.
The spring will be crucial for the development of the next group of Horned Frogs as TCU must replace 11 starters including Heisman runner-up Max Duggan, potential first-round draft picks Quentin Johnston and Jim Thorpe Award winner Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson.
It’s not a complete rebuild as the Horned Frogs return key pieces including seven starters on defense led by Josh Newton. Newton and Hodges-Tomlinson were the best corner back duo in the country last year and having Newton back is massive for the secondary.
The entire starting safety group of Bud Clark, Mark Perry and Millard Bradford also returns along with starting linebackers Johnny Hodges and Jamoi Hodges.
Offensively there will be more questions except at quarterback where Chandler Morris should slide right in as the starter. Morris beat out Duggan for the job last season, but suffered a knee injury in the season opener against Colorado.
With Duggan gone and TCU not bringing in a transfer quarter or a talented high schooler, the job is Morris’ to lose if there’s a competition at all. The biggest question will be how quickly the offense is able to pick up new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ scheme.
The offensive line must replace Steve Avila and Alan Ali but returns two starters in Brandon Coleman and Andrew Coker plus John Lanz, who was in the top six of offensive snaps for linemen last season.
The skill positions battle should be fun to watch as there’s plenty of production to replace with TCU losing its top three rushers and receivers from a year ago.
At receiver, Savion Williams had a bit of a breakout season and enters the spring as the top returning receiver. Other names to watch include Jordan Hudson, early enrollee Cordale Russell, Blair Conwright and transfer receivers JoJo Earle, Jack Bech, John Paul Richardson and Jaylon Robinson.
At running back, Trent Battle and Emani Bailey will have a chance to take over for Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado, but they’ll also be pushed by Alabama transfer Trey Sanders, a former five-star recruit.
Spring football will conclude with TCU’s spring game on April 14 at Amon G. Carter Stadium at 7 p.m.
