TCU Insider: Who was MVP of spring football? Plus most improved, biggest surprise and more
Spring football is in the books and now we’ve all seen the first glimpses of the 2023 TCU Horned Frogs.
The Horned Frogs closed spring ball with their Friday Night Lights spring game at Amon G. Carter Stadium Friday night. In front of a crowd of a few thousand, TCU put on a show with big plays.
With 15 data points in hand, what are the first impressions of Sonny Dykes’ next team? Dykes was tasked with the challenge of replacing stars like wide receiver Quentin Johnston, quarterback Max Duggan, left guard Steve Avila, running back Kendre Miller and many more after last year’s magical 13-2 season that ended with an appearance in the national championship game.
The spring offered a number of answers as to how TCU will look in Year Two of the Dykes’ era. What better way to recap the spring than handing out some awards?
Here are the top standouts and surprises from the spring:
MVP, JP Richardson
TCU knew it was getting an experienced wide receiver who had made plays in the Big 12 when it landed Richardson from Oklahoma State. Richardson has already found a way to exceed those expectations since stepping on campus. He’s a superb route runner, has excellent hands and displayed the ability to pick up a lot of yards after the catch.
He’s faster and stronger than you might expect. Consistency was another attribute that caught the coaching staff’s eyes. Whether he was with the first, second or third team offense, Richardson just made plays like he did during the spring game with multiple TDs. Dykes said he’s been doing things like that all spring.
“If you would have said who would’ve been the leading receiver today we would’ve all said John Paul,” Dykes said after the spring game. “He’s done it all spring practice, he’s just a guy that’s in the right place at the right time.”
Most improved, Josh Hoover
The second-year quarterback has looked like a different player this spring physically and with his confidence. The last five or so practices you could start to see the former Rockwall Heath star begin to grasp the new offense under Kendal Briles.
That led to breakout performances and multiple days when Hoover threw multiple touchdown passes. His improved arm strength and athleticism has been impressive to see.
“He’s probably made as big a jump as anybody, that’s good, that’s what you want to see,” Dykes said.
Biggest surprise, Jonathan Bax
From the minute the Horned Frogs put on the pads, Bax, a freshman who enrolled early, was among the most physically impressive looking players on the defense. Despite having to learn the 3-3-5 and transition from a traditional defensive end to linebacker, Bax displayed a solid football I.Q. and picked up things quickly.
He has great size, but still has maintained his quickness and agility. He had a number of tackles in the spring game and has had opportunities to run with the first team defense due to injuries. Bax wasn’t the highest rated recruit Dykes signed, but he could be an instant impact player in the fall.
Most explosive, Emani Bailey
Bailey didn’t get to show much of what he could do as he had to exit the spring game with an injury, but overall Bailey has provided the chunk plays out of the backfield the Horned Frogs became accustomed to last year. He runs angry and only needs a small crease for an explosive run as he showed during spring ball.
Bailey could be lightning while Trey Sanders could be thunder. Either way it seems TCU is developing a nice 1-2 punch at running back.
Most shifty, JoJo Earle
When it comes to the Alabama transfer from Aledo, you just need to get the ball in his hands and watch him work. Whether it was on offense or special teams, Earle always seemed to have a play or two in which he would make a defender look silly trying to bring him in down.
On one play in the spring game, Earle juked and weaved through multiple defenders, drawing a big reaction from the Amon G. Carter Stadium crowd. Earle, a receiver, is a dynamic weapon, along with fellow receiver Major Everhart, who would finish second in this category.
Most to prove, outside receivers
The slot receiving group of Richardson, Earle and Everhart were fantastic this spring. The coaching staff has to feel a lot better about replacing Taye Barber and Derius Davis based on what they’ve seen, but what about the loss of Quentin Johnston outside?
TCU returned two good options with Savion Williams and Jordan Hudson. The two combined for nearly 600 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but neither had that breakout spring to seize the title as WR1. There were some flashes, but you wanted to see a little bit more from both.
The outside receiver will look different as players like Cordale Russell and LSU transfer Jack Bech return from injury, Williams and Hudson will need to step it up in the summer.
Roundup
I have a few more thoughts on players who didn’t earn any awards or superlatives. Let’s start with Chandler Morris, the projected starter at quarterback. Morris had a good spring and, like Hoover, got better as he got more comfortable with the offense.
There’s no quarterback controversy, but Hoover’s improvement should continue to push Morris, who said he wants to work on his deep ball and add a few more pounds this summer.
Jackson State transfer Willis Patrick has fit right in and gives TCU a starting option at guard or center. As a whole I thought the offensive line was solid with room to grow for the summer.
Defensively, Damonic Williams and Shad Banks had cases for MVP. They made life tough on the offense especially when the two were lined up at defensive tackle and middle linebacker. They could have All-Big 12 type years.
TCU’s secondary lost Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, but could be better with more depth at corner and safety. Even with no Josh Newton or Avery Helm, there wasn’t much drop off with Channing Canada and Mason White at corner.
Finally one other name to watch is Paul Oyewale. The redshirt freshman has transformed his body and had some really good pass rushing moments at defensive end. He could be the replacement for Dylan Horton.
