Horned Frogs Huddle

Jeremy Payne and the Frogs’ Ground Game Power a 38-27 Win

TCU Football needed a win, and it got one at Arrowhead Stadium against a reeling Kansas team, now losers of four in a row.  

The 38-27 road victory inspires hope as the calendar turns to October with the Big 12 championship still open for the taking. Eleven of 16 teams hold a conference record of 2-0, 1-0 or 1-1, and the Frogs are one of them. 

Here are five takeaways from TCU’s Week 5 win as the focus shifts to a Friday night home game against Houston. 

Feel the Payne 

The Frogs got their ground game going, stacking up a season-high 153 team rushing yards.  

Running back Cam Cook redeemed an opening-drive fumble with a 3-yard touchdown run two possessions later. The sophomore closed the contest with 61 yards on a game-high 15 carries, adding three catches for 11 yards. 

Cam Cook has accounted for six of the Frogs’ nine rushing TDs this season. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Jeremy Payne established himself as the RB committee’s No. 2 option for a second consecutive week, turning his eight rush attempts into 65 yards and adding a 10-yard catch. His 32-yard run in the third quarter easily exceeded the team’s previous longest run this season (20). 

“I thought we wore them down a little bit, which has been the trademark of this team when it’s been good,” said coach Sonny Dykes after the game. “We had to run the ball in the fourth quarter, and we were able to.” 

Protecting a 28-24 lead entering the final 15 minutes of regulation, the Frogs iced away the win with 65 rushing yards on 11 fourth-quarter carries. 

Houston has proven susceptible to the run, conceding 240 rushing yards to Iowa State in a 20-0 loss last Saturday. 

Jeremy Payne handled a season-high nine touches against Kansas. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

JP Makes a Play 

The game’s tenor shifted seismically when JP Richardson returned a punt for an 89-yard touchdown in the third quarter’s waning moments.  

“Kaden McFadden, shout out to him,” said Richardson of first-year safety Kaden McFadden, who pitched in a block just as the receiver was corralling the punt. “He’s the one who sparked that one.” 

The offense had stalled, scoring just once in its preceding five drives.  

“I think that punt return helped us relax,” Dykes said. “It helped us get our footing back. It was a heck of a block at the point of attack. He hit him right on his side, right on his hip. And then JP made a heck of a return.” 

JP Richardson’s 89-yard punt return TD is just 1 yard shy of the nation’s longest punt return this season. Photo by Percise Windom

The special teams score served as a launching point for 10 fourth-quarter points that sealed the win. 

The Big 12’s leading punt returner has come from TCU for three of the past seven years — KaVontae Turpin in 2017, Jalen Reagor in 2019 and Derius Davis in 2022. Richardson stands atop the conference with 179 punt return yards through five games. 

Pass Offense Utterly Electric 

Josh Hoover completed 28 of his 37 attempts for 356 yards, with three passing scores and a pair of interceptions.  

The sophomore signal-caller’s 139 completions are an FBS high; his 1,774 passing yards sit third and his 14 passing touchdowns rank fourth. 

Hoover’s receiving corps is dynamic and deep.  

Jack Bech kept himself in the mix for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation’s top receiver, tallying a career-high 10 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.  

Jack Bech has set a new career-high in receiving yards (647) less than halfway through the regular season. His six TD catches are double his previous best. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

“Hoov was playing out of his mind. In my opinion, he’s the best QB in the country,” Bech said postgame. “I wouldn’t want to be catching the rock from anybody else.” 

Four pass-catchers had at least four catches for 40 receiving yards, including Eric McAlister, who hit 100 yards on his four receptions. The Boise State transfer also scored for a third straight week. 

Richardson and Savion Williams combined for an additional eight catches and 89 yards. Few teams in the country have a group with the talent of TCU’s quartet. 

Old McDonald Had a Sack 

The Horned Frogs’ defense clamped down after a slow start, containing the Jayhawks to 13 total points between the second and fourth quarters.  

Senior linebacker Cooper McDonald upped his sack total with a takedown of Kansas QB Jalon Daniels, and cornerback LaMareon James secured a one-handed, toe-tapping interception in the final minute of regulation to clinch the win.  

The defense held Kansas well under its season average of 200 rushing yards per game.  

“When our backs are against the wall and things aren’t looking good, we’re just going to start swinging,” said linebacker Johnny Hodges. “We still have a lot of work to do in terms of the run game because they still got a bunch of chunk yardage and stuff. But I’m really happy with our guys and myself and our coaches.” 

Linebacker Johnny Hodges has 38 tackles this season, second most on the team and eighth in the Big 12. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Hauss With a Huge Conversion 

His stat line might not look like much — three rushes for seven yards — but first-year quarterback Hauss Hejny’s four-yard fourth-down pickup helped extend a first-half TCU touchdown drive.  

The Frogs’ offense has experienced few issues moving the ball through the air this season. Last Saturday’s outing withstanding, there have been moments when the ground game could use a boost. 

Still yet to attempt a pass, the first-year QB could fill an important, albeit niche role, as a short-yardage and goal-line situation rusher. 

 — Corey Smith 

TCU entered last Saturday’s Battle for the Iron Skillet with an all-time 53-42-7 advantage over SMU. The Mustangs pulled one closer, capturing a 66-42 win at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in the second-to-last scheduled meeting between rivals that have played almost every year since 1915. 

“Obviously a bad night tonight. Everything that could go wrong went wrong,” said coach Sonny Dykes, who was ejected from the game early in the third quarter after receiving consecutive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.  

While the Horned Frogs put on yet another dynamic offensive display, totaling 34-plus points for a sixth consecutive game stretching back to last November, giveaways, penalties and struggles to run the ball consistently proved costly. 

We break down the good, the bad and the ugly from the Frogs’ second loss and look ahead to a matchup with 1-3 Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium. 

Quarterback Ken Seals completed all three passes he attempted during the Frogs’ final offensive possession, leading TCU on a 59-yard touchdown drive. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Offense Finishes Strong

The Horned Frogs committed giveaways on three consecutive third-quarter possessions — fumble, interception, fumble — but rebounded with back-to-back touchdown drives to close the night. 

Boosted by a 45-yard catch from Eric McAlister, the offense went 64 yards in less than 80 seconds on its first fourth-quarter possession. Wideout Jack Bech bookended the drive with a 15-yard touchdown catch, his fourth of the season. 

Second-string quarterback Ken Seals stepped in to relieve Josh Hoover on the next possession, leading the offense on a 10-play, 59-yard scoring drive and finding Jordyn Bailey for a 6-yard TD on a 4th and 3. 

That offensive momentum might carry into Week 5. The Jayhawks surrendered 15 fourth-quarter points to West Virginia, all in the final four minutes of regulation, in a 32-28 Week 4 loss. 

Jack Bech’s 516 receiving yards are a career-high, with still eight games remaining in the regular season. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Spreading the Wealth

Who predicted Bech would be atop the Big 12 with 516 receiving yards four games into the season? 

The senior had another huge game, corralling eight passes for 166 yards and a pair of TDs. He’s not the only one producing.  

McAlister posted six catches for 114 yards, tallying a touchdown for a second straight week. Savion Williams broke the 50-yard mark on three receptions, and 10 players recorded at least one catch. It’s anyone’s guess who Hoover will look to next. 

Among 134 FBS teams, only Miami has a more prolific passing attack through the first four weeks. 

Rushing Game Grounded

The explosiveness in the passing game has been offset by an inability to get things going on the ground. The Horned Frogs haven’t had a single rush of greater than 10 yards on 49 combined carries over the past two weeks. 

TCU’s 2.7 yards per carry are tied for 14th-fewest in the nation. Against SMU, the Frogs managed a shade over 2.0 yards per carry as a team, scoring two rushing TDs but manufacturing only 65 yards on 32 attempts.  

First-year running back Jeremy Payne provided a spark on the Frogs’ final possession, compiling 19 yards on his four fourth-quarter runs. 

Jeremy Payne, right, has posted 4.6 yards per touch this season, highest among TCU running backs. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Penalties Picking Back Up 

The Horned Frogs had reined in the penalties after committing seven for 100 yards in the season opener at Stanford, totaling 10 for 105 yards against Long Island and UCF combined. 

Self-inflicted wounds were an issue again in Week 4, as the Frogs were flagged 14 times, conceding 135 penalty yards. 

Turnovers Turn Into Points

TCU did not give the ball away once in Weeks 2 and 3. Against SMU, the offense turned it over five times, its most in a game since Dec. 5, 2020.   

Two of SMU’s takeaways resulted in defensive touchdowns — first a 51-yard scoop-and-score and later a 60-yard pick-six. 

The Frogs’ flood of giveaways translated to 24 total points for the Mustangs — which happens to have been the margin of defeat. 

Upcoming opponent Kansas hasn’t been playing the cleanest football itself. The Jayhawks have committed eight giveaways in their past three games, all turning into losses. 

— Corey Smith

TCU lost its first football game against UCF in program history, falling 35-34 to the Knights on Saturday night after Kyle Lemmermann’s 58-yard field-goal attempt at the final whistle missed the mark. 

“Kyle hit it really well. You certainly can’t blame him at all,” said coach Sonny Dykes postgame. “We had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to put the game away.” 

Nevertheless, several positives surfaced for a program that saw more than half its student body show out for the Frogs’ first Big 12 tilt of the 2024 season. 

In this Week 3 edition of TCU Magazine’s five takeaways, we’ll debrief on what we learned and where the 2-1 Horned Frogs go from here. 

Deep Ball to Bech 

Jack Bech is balling at the moment, corralling a 50-yard touchdown and reaching the 200-yard receiving mark on his game-high nine receptions against the Knights.  

The 6-foot-2 senior from Lafayette, Louisiana, was a problem for UCF in the downfield passing game, with six catches of 15-plus yards.  

He suited up for 33 NCAA football games before the 2024 season, only twice exceeding the 70-yard receiving mark. He’s established new career highs in receiving in two of the last three weeks, having also posted 139 yards and a touchdown in TCU’s Week 1 win at Stanford. 

“He’s a stud,” said quarterback Josh Hoover after the game. “You put the ball in the air and he’s going to catch it. He’s going to make plays.” 

Expect good-on-good in Week 4 when Bech and the Frogs’ electrifying passing offense goes up against an SMU team that returns multiple starting defensive backs from a unit that last season finished 21st in the nation against the pass. 

Jack Bech has assembled a team-high 350 receiving yards through the first quarter of the regular season. Photo by Percise Windom

Red-Hot Hoover

While Hoover compiled impressive numbers over the latter half of the 2023 regular season after taking over for Chandler Morris, he also committed seven interceptions in that span. 

Josh Hoover’s 1,022 passing yards are tops in the Big 12. Photo by Percise Windom

The sophomore signal-caller has continued to produce at a dizzying pace in 2024, leading the nation’s No. 4 pass offense with 340.7 yards per game. Hoover has yet to throw an interception this season, and he’s reached the end zone nine times. 

Against the Knights, Hoover completed 35 of 52 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns.  

The captain is shouldering the team’s first loss and is taking it in stride. 

“This doesn’t affect my confidence one bit. I know our group’s really good,” Hoover said during Saturday’s postgame press conference. “I know we’re good on offense. I know we’re good on defense. I have so much faith in our team. I’m going to wake up tomorrow and see what I need to do to get better.”  

Block Party 

Not only did TCU’s special teams unit block a pair of first-half field-goal attempts, but it also turned away a point-after try on UCF’s opening possession of the third quarter.  

Defensive lineman Caleb Fox got credit on the first blocked kick, cornerback LaMareon James on the second and safety Bud Clark on the third. 

Those seven saved points at least secured the Frogs a long field goal look at a would-be game-winner in the contest’s closing seconds.  

Elsewhere on special teams, JP Richardson had a solid day returning punts, with his three runbacks netting 33 yards, including a long of 15 yards. 

Rush Defense Gets Gashed 

The Horned Frogs struggled to stop the run and to run the football themselves in Saturday’s loss.  

The Knights ran 54 times, with running back RJ Harvey handling a game-high 29 carries for 180 yards and two rushing touchdowns. The senior from Orlando, Florida, also caught a 29-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. 

“You know they want to run the ball,” linebacker Johnny Hodges said after the game. “Once something starts working, you start thinking and panicking. I don’t know if physicality is our problem. Discipline, doing the same thing over and over again, that’s what we’re struggling with.” 

As a team, UCF outpaced the Frogs 289-58 in the rushing column.

“We’ve got to be able to run the ball better,” coach Dykes said. “It’s been something that’s plagued us the first three games. Gotta be able to run it better than we did today. When you can’t, it’s hard to hold onto a lead. And that’s kind of what happened to us.” 

McAlister Makes it to the End Zone 

Wide receiver Eric McAlister has some momentum going. The Boise State transfer followed up his two-catch, 54-yard Week 2 outing with another 54-yard day, this time with a season-high four catches and his first touchdown as a Horned Frog. 

McAlister’s emergence provides the Frogs’ passing attack with yet another veteran target. He, Bech, Richardson and Savion Williams have suited up for a combined 142 college games, and each has surpassed 100 receiving yards through the first quarter of the regular season.  

I’ve spent my life working hard to make it out of every storm I’ve faced. My biggest drive is to be an example to others to never give up and keep pushing no matter what. 

I’m the oldest of five kids born to parents who were in the military. Hard work is embedded in my DNA. Being a military kid, I grew up in California, Florida, Virginia and Texas, so playing sports was one of the only consistencies I had in my childhood. No matter where or when we moved, I committed to going hard for that team.

Marcel Brooks is in his fifth season as a Horned Frog. He was a member of LSU’s national championship-winning team in 2019. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

By the time I was in middle school, I knew I wanted to give my all to play football in college. I leaned into every word and piece of advice from my coaches, and to this day, my coaches have had the greatest impact on my life. I like to say that my high school coach taught me how to “see” things through from start to finish, see a situation for what it is, learn to make the best of it and see opportunity in every moment in life. Then, my first college coach taught me that if I want something, I have to go get it. Something special is not just going to come to you or fall in your lap.

I started my collegiate career at LSU. I’ll always be grateful for the coaching I received there, but right before Covid hit, I decided to make a change and keep moving forward in my career. 

TCU was close to home, an important factor for me being in the middle of the pandemic. But moving to Fort Worth thrust me into a new culture I didn’t know or understand when there was already so much uncertainty in our world. To top it all off, I was fighting to recover from injury during my first year on the team.  

Marcel Brooks celebrates a sack in the 2024 opener against Stanford. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

My path started to change when Coach Dykes arrived on campus. He and the people he brought onto the staff are amazing. They are the ones who helped me get my career back together. Despite my injury, the coaches made sure I was always around the team and part of the program, and that gesture alone encouraged me. 

To this day, those months of being out taught me the greatest lesson — to be grateful for everything I have. 

Being a part of a team ever since I was a kid shaped who I am as a man. Being surrounded by a group of 100 different personalities and having to learn to connect with each of them is the ultimate growth exercise. My teammates have been by my side throughout the highs and lows of my career, the setback of injury and my journey to recover from it, personal wins and trials and every moment in between.

Because this team goes through so much together, it’s easy to involve each other in our lives, share perspectives and become leaders and examples in our own ways. The older guys have the opportunity to mentor the younger guys through the things they have already gone through, on and off the field.

Marcel Brooks with his dad, William (left), and uncle, Don (right). Courtesy of the Brooks family

I work to lead by example because I have had a lot of incredible examples in my life. From the time I started playing football in grade school to my eventual transfer to TCU, I cannot count the number of people who helped me grow up and showed me what it took to be admitted into and graduate from college.

At the top of that list are my siblings. Knowing they are always watching me and looking up to me is inspiring. But the most important pair of eyes I have on me belongs to my nine-month-old son, Marcel.

Becoming a dad has shifted my perspective on life. I have someone who needs me to be consistent. I have someone to protect. I have someone I need to inspire, and he inspires me to be better, too.

With a commitment to him, my team and my growth, I think this year is going to be wonderful. This season will be my new favorite memory at TCU. 

— As told to Lily Margaret Greenway

Editor’s Note: These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

TCU coasted past Long Island University in its lone 2024 regular-season matchup against a non-Power Four program, topping the Sharks 45-0 in Saturday’s home opener.  

The game was the Horned Frogs’ first shutout since October 2017. 

“I told our team afterward, ‘It’s really difficult to get a shutout in college football,’ ” coach Sonny Dykes said after the win. “It was a heck of a job by us defensively. I thought we did a good job of playing physical, tackling and getting off the field most of the time on third down.”  

TCU’s offense also controlled the action with a balanced attack that converted all six red zone visits to touchdowns. 

Quarterback Josh Hoover had a string of 14 consecutive completions on his way to 267 passing yards and two touchdowns. Twelve players recorded a catch. Seven tallied at least one carry. The Frogs had four rushing scores in a game for the third time since the start of last year. 

With wins over Stanford, a 3-9 team last year, and an FCS opponent in Long Island, the Horned Frogs have fared well on the driving range. Now kicks off the nine-hole gauntlet of the conference slate, plus a Sept. 21 trip to take on ACC newcomer SMU.  

Here are five takeaways as TCU celebrates its second win of the season and eyes a Week 3 home tilt against UCF and All-Big 12 preseason Newcomer of the Year KJ Jefferson. 

Defensive Personnel Have Elite Potential

TCU’s defense has given the Horned Frog faithful reason to believe it could be among the Big 12 elite this season. 

Johnny Hodges’ return looks to have sparked the linebacking group. His seven tackles Saturday night tied safety Richard Toney Jr. for a team high. 

Fellow linebacker Namdi Obiazor is on pace for 24 tackles for loss and nine sacks through the first two contests, but the Frogs are getting pass-rush contributions from all over the place.  

Six different players have logged at least a half sack, including Notre Dame transfer NaNa Osafo-Mensah, a defensive lineman who notched his first solo sack Saturday. 

“The front seven is amazing,” Toney said. “A lot of those guys are really physical. They want to make plays. They want to get to the ball. We got straight dawgs up there in that front seven.” 

Linebacker Cooper McDonald logged four tackles, including a tackle for loss, during Saturday’s shutout of Long Island University. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Let Cam Cook

After an encouraging outing at Stanford, running back Cam Cook backed it up with a three-touchdown effort in Week 2, totaling 58 rushing yards on 13 carries.  

“I’m going to make the most out of any chance I get,” Cook said after the game. “I was blessed to be out there.” 

While Cook posted a second–straight 60-plus–yard, touchdown-yielding performance, the rush offense averaged only 3.4 yards per tote on 37 team attempts.  

Dykes said there’s room for improvement in run blocking.  

“This was a different approach defensively than we expected to see. We’ve got to do a better job of adapting and adjusting,” the coach said. “People are chopping their front up on us, a lot of line movement. We’ve just got to be good fundamentally.” 

Earle Eats in 2024 Debut

Wideout JoJo Earle wasted little time getting going in Saturday’s shellacking of the Sharks, grabbing a 5-yard touchdown from Hoover on a quick out less than 90 seconds into the second quarter.  

Fellow wide receiver — and former high school quarterback — Savion Williams found Earle for a 15-yard completion a play earlier to drive the Frogs into the low red zone after offensive coordinator Kendal Briles dialed up a reverse pass. 

Having missed significant time with injury, Earle said it felt good to get between the white lines and make an impact.  

“I haven’t played ball in a little bit. I missed all of spring and the majority of fall camp,” Earle said postgame. “It’s been a long time.” 

Dykes said he’s glad to see the Alabama transfer healthy. Earle’s ability to slot in at different spots has been valuable to the offense. 

“We intended to play him outside this year and felt like he could make the biggest impact playing outside receiver,” Dykes said. “Some guys started to go down, particularly Major [Everhart], and then, with [Jack] Bech moving outside, JoJo bounced back inside, which I think has been a good move for him.” 

Takeaways Christian University

The defense keeps finding ways to generate turnovers.  

Obiazor intercepted Long Island quarterback Luca Stanzani on a deflected third-quarter pass after defensive lineman Tymon Mitchell picked off Stanford signal-caller Ashton Daniels a week before. 

“Tips and overthrows, you gotta get those,” Obiazor said. “I just saw the ball in the air. I made a play on it and did a little bit with it, but I’ve gotta get in the end zone next time.” 

TCU has also forced a pair of fumbles through the first two weeks of the regular season. Though it’s yet to recover one, activity around the ball is promising.  

The Frogs defense tied for the second-fewest interceptions and second-fewest fumble recoveries in the Big 12 last year. It looks like that could change this season. 

Don’t Forget About Dominique

Running back Dominique Johnson punched his way over the pylon for a 2-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, extending TCU’s lead to 24-0. 

The TD plunge was the junior’s first in purple. It came on just his seventh carry of the campaign. He also peeled off a 20-yard run on the offense’s third possession of the night, helping move the Horned Frogs into field-goal range.  

The Arkansas transfer had a career year for the Hogs in 2021, stacking up 5.9 yards per carry en route to 575 rushing yards and a team-high seven touchdowns on the ground. 

Two ACL injuries in as many years reduced production during the later stages of Johnson’s time in Fayetteville. Early indications are that he’s coming back with a vengeance in 2024. 

— Corey Smith

The Horned Frogs went 6-1 in one-possession games during the 2022 run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game and 0-4 in such contests a season ago.

“We talked a lot about being tough, mentally tough, and I thought we were,” said head coach Sonny Dykes after last Friday’s win at Stanford. “We got down. Guys never blinked.”

TCU erased a seven-point halftime deficit, engineering three touchdown drives in the closing 19:32 of regulation.

Sophomore signal-caller Josh Hoover eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark for a fifth straight game, and Cam Cook piled up 84 scrimmage yards and the first touchdown of his collegiate career. The Frogs got their first takeaway of 2024 via a Tymon Mitchell interception. The defense also generated a trio of turnovers on downs.

“I don’t know that I’ve had a team that was more focused and excited to play an opener,” Dykes said. “I think because of that, we might have played a little tight early.”

Here are five takeaways from the Frogs’ 34-27 victory over the Cardinal.

Savion the Savior

Despite committing a couple of uncharacteristic drops on consecutive third-quarter looks, Savion Williams assembled a monstrous Week 1 outing, pulling in 11 of 18 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown. He added a 7-yard run on his only carry.

Getting him the ball was an offensive priority from the jump. Williams totaled five catches for 39 yards on the Frogs’ opening possession alone, his 5-yard TD catch capping the 13-play drive.

The fifth-year senior is liable to have his way against FCS opponent Long Island in Week 2. So long as the first-team offense is on the field, that is.

The Sharks are 0-7 against FBS opponents over the past three seasons, twice conceding 60-plus points and losing by an average margin of 38.4.

Jack Bech was a factor in the Horned Frogs’ Week 1 win. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Bech Breaks Out

Jack Bech led TCU with 139 receiving yards after totaling 143 scrimmage yards in eight appearances last year.

Not only did the converted tight end record a 43-yard reception and a go-ahead 4-yard touchdown catch in the second half, but he also recovered a fumble midway through the third quarter to salvage a scoring drive.

“He was unbelievable,” said Hoover postgame. “For his first game out there, he was awesome.”

The 6-foot-2 senior was one of three Horned Frogs to go for 85-plus receiving yards in the season opener, joining Williams and JP Richardson, who had 107 yards on six catches.

Pass Defense Dominant

The Horned Frog secondary was stifling, holding Cardinal quarterback Ashton Daniels to a sub-50 percent completion rate and a 12.5 QBR; that being a metric measured on a scale of 0-to-100 that, as ESPN describes it, “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties.”

Stanford managed only 165 passing yards for the game.

In the 2023 regular-season finale late last November, Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns against the Frogs.

Junior safety and team captain Bud Clark said the defense had been itching to get on the field ever since. “We’ve been ready, honestly.”

The Real Deal

Tulane transfer Devean Deal tied Namdi Obiazor with a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss in his Horned Frog debut, adding a half sack on Stanford’s penultimate possession to bring up a fourth-and-16 the Cardinal would not convert.

The 2023 All-American Conference honorable mention racked up 13 tackles for loss and four sacks for the Green Wave’s top-25 scoring defense a season ago.

Combining forces with his brother Markis in the Frogs’ defensive front, Deal made a dazzling first impression for a TCU defense that got to the quarterback four times last Friday night.

Penalties an Area for Improvement

While TCU outperformed the Cardinal in several team statistical categories — third-down efficiency, total offense, time of possession — the Horned Frogs surrendered 45 penalty yards on Stanford’s opening possession and 100 for the game. The last time TCU exceeded 100 penalty yards in a game was Nov. 6, 2021, in a 30-28 win against Baylor.

“We were fortunate,” Dykes said. “Any time you go on the road and you make some of the mistakes that we made, typically you get beat. So, I’m really proud of this football team for sticking with it.”

— Corey Smith

When people ask me who I look up to, I always say that my best friend in the whole world is my mom, but my hero is my dad. My parents emigrated from Ghana in the late ’80s, but my dad moved to Los Angeles all by himself. He had little money to his name, but he got into UC Davis for undergrad, went to medical school at Stanford and did a residency at UCLA.

I’ve seen my dad fight through pain and tiredness to the bone, wake up after two hours of sleep and go to work at the hospital to provide for our family. I think I was in high school when I finally understood that everything I have, from the socks I put on my feet to the car I drive, is provided because of how hard my dad has worked.

Watching my dad come from nothing and turn his whole life around for our family inspires me to model my mindset after him. I aim to put others first, do my work wholeheartedly and dedicate myself to giving back to those who care about me and love me forever.

NaNa Osafo-Mensah after a defensive line drill at fall camp. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

These values were instilled into me at an early age, alongside the calls to be persistent and stay consistent. My parents never cared much about what my siblings and I dedicated ourselves to as long as we committed ourselves to success in the areas we chose to focus on. Growing up, we were involved in everything from Kumon classes to karate to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. We were always in extracurricular activities so we could take full advantage of all the opportunities we were presented.

I always was a big sports kid growing up, but I never planned on playing football in college. I loved basketball, but as I grew older, I figured out I was a lot better at hitting people on the field than dribbling and shooting. I started playing football during my freshman year of high school just to hang out with my friends, but when a new coach came in, he showed me I had the opportunity and the potential to play beyond high school. I didn’t think anything of what he was saying to me because I never thought I could get a scholarship. But when I got my first offer during my sophomore season, my whole perspective changed. I started driving from Fort Worth to Carrollton to train with one of my old coaches and truly commit myself to the game.

Looking back, I think TCU is the only sports team my dad got season tickets to — and we weren’t even a big going-to-sports games type of family. But growing up, I watched TCU play in my backyard, and now I have the unique opportunity to play in my hometown.

NaNa Osafo-Mensah at his Notre Dame graduation with his parents, Kwaku and Joyce Osafo-Mensah. Courtesy of the Osafo-Mensah family

I want to dedicate this season to one of my best friends and my roommate at Notre Dame — Jacob Lacey. Jacob is one of the hardest-working dudes I’ve ever met. I always felt like I was a hard worker, but the way that Jacob puts his head down and focuses motivates me to be better.

He’s not just my best friend; he’s my brother. We would train together, eat together, cook meals together, and I was with him when the doctors found blood clots in his lungs and his calf. I witnessed firsthand how hungry he was for the game of football, and I saw his career taken away from him in one night that came out of nowhere. Every day, I remember that feeling, and every day, it motivates me. Jacob is why I chose to wear number 54 this year. My number has always been 31, but putting on a jersey with his number is a constant reminder that the reason I play is bigger than myself — it’s bigger than any of us.

I’ve had to go through a lot of adversity throughout college, and there were times I wanted to sit with myself in my sadness. But I always get up because I know those moments are what make me stronger. I wouldn’t go back and change anything I’ve gone through — the trials I have overcome are what made me the man I am today.

NaNa Osafo-Mensah and Jacob Lacey. Courtesy of the Osafo-Mensah Family

I want to emphasize to all the guys I’m playing with now that there are going to be times when we’re going to struggle — whether that’s with something as simple as being tired or getting a flat tire or as heavy as losing a family member. But at the end of the day, if we can find ways to push through those times, we realize there is so much good in the world and so many ways we can find it. I believe that mentality is what helps us get through moments of adversity, big and small.

Being an older guy on the team this year, I choose to commit myself to showing my teammates the light at the end of the tunnel. We all have goals and dreams we want to achieve. We just gotta go out and get them!

— As told to Lily Margaret Greenway

Editor’s Note: These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

They come from Australia to Azle, Baylor to Boise State. Meet the newest Horned Frog football players who now call Fort Worth home.

Ken Seals

Quarterback — Azle, Texas

Ken Seals with his parents, Corinna and Robert Seals. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

When you transfer schools, no one knows who you are or what you’ve gone through. At my previous school, I had a great freshman year. I started every game and broke the freshman record for yards, touchdowns and completion percentage.

But the following season, I broke my finger, hip and shoulder and sat out for the rest of the year. As a junior, I was benched as the third-string quarterback.

After thriving as the center of attention for the first half of my career, I would walk the halls, and no one even noticed I was there.

Criticism of me and my game came from the 90,000 people who were once praising me, and I learned I couldn’t listen to any voices but God’s.

When I started playing just for him, I narrowed my focus and stopped looking up in the stands. With a new mindset, I stayed for my senior season, and the games I played allowed me to transfer to TCU — my dream program.

Each of us is born to lead lives in the directions we’re called and find out the best way we can serve others. I’ve always been called to do so through football, but even when my goals became my reality, I was shocked.

I was devastated when I didn’t get an offer from TCU right out of high school. I always wanted to be a Horned Frog and had been to every football camp here since I was old enough to attend.

But no one who’s accomplished great things did so without failing first, and I’m ready to get some wins in Fort Worth this year.

Drake Dabney

Tight End — Cypress, Texas

Drake Dabney totaled 552 receiving yards at Baylor last year, a single-season record for a Bears tight end. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

I don’t get too high, and I don’t get too low. I stay level-headed, which grounds me in times of celebration and helps me get my confidence back when I hit adversity.  

In 2022, I broke my fibula, and my season at my previous school was over in an instant. Even with all the hard work I put in, nothing is guaranteed, and I’m not entitled to anything.

My faith in God gives me a truer identity outside of football. How I play doesn’t change how I’m viewed in the Lord’s eyes. Knowing I cannot control the plan God has set out for me keeps me from stressing about what I can’t control. He has carried me through my entire football journey, and I know he won’t stop now.

The summer going into my junior year, I got my first offer to play college football. It was the first time I thought that I might be able to go somewhere with the sport I love. I fell in love with the process of focusing on my game, and my parents sacrificed everything for me to get where I am today. Their support and effort inspire me to give my all every day.

After earning my degree, I knew it was time for a fresh start. When I hit the transfer portal, TCU was the first school that called me. God bringing me to TCU — which is closer to my family — is an answered prayer.

Growing up, all of my friends played football together, and to be one of the guys who is still playing isn’t something that slips my mind. It’s easy to want to look far ahead to the NFL and work for the prospect of playing football for as long as I can, but I acknowledge what a blessing it is to be here right now. I’m proud to be at TCU.

Ethan Craw

Punter — Tasmania, Australia

Ethan Craw kicking at fall camp. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

My family and I live by two sayings: “Never sweat the small stuff,” and “Finish on a win.”

We grew up playing basketball together and couldn’t leave the court until we ended on a good shot. I’ve always lived by our philosophy. Even when I have a rough practice, or when I’m upset with how I’m performing, I don’t stop punting until I’ve hit a nice ball. I let it all go and keep kicking through.

Tasmania is like a small town — everyone knows each other. So, when I moved to the States at 15, that was a culture shock.

I went to high school just outside of Auburn, Alabama, and learned that nothing beats Southern hospitality. I don’t know if it’s just because of my accent, but everyone is so nice. Although, it took me a while to get a hold of all the “yes-sir”s and “no ma’am”s. In Australia, we’re so casual that we call our teachers by their first names. That was something I quickly figured out was different here.

After high school, I moved to Brisbane and joined ProKick Australia in August 2021. Everyone there told me that if I wanted to play in America, I needed to move to Melbourne. So, I packed up with one of my mates, and trained there three times a week for a year.

That’s when Coach Tommerdahl started recruiting me. I would come home from practice, and my mailbox would have letters. And not just letters from Coach Tommerdahl but all the other TCU coaches investing in me.

Additionally, the previous punter and ProKick alum, Jordy Sandy, couldn’t speak more highly of Fort Worth. When I visited and saw our stadium, I knew there was nothing like it in Australia.  

I joke that Fort Worth has already left its mark on me. During the spring game, I held the ball as my mate, Caleb Sempebwa, made this really long field goal, and the whole team was jumping up and down around us afterward.

I hopped on Caleb’s back, his cleat went into my shin, and then my leg just started spitting blood. But it’s a cool scar and a constant reminder that I’m living my lifelong dream of playing with my family name on my back.

Eric McAlister

Wide Receiver — Azle, Texas

Eric McAlister and his 6-month-old German shepherd, Duke. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

I’m kind of a clown, so not a lot of people know the effort I put into this game. I work hard so I can go out there and play freely, without the fear in the back of my mind of wondering if I’ll make a mistake. I already know I’ll make mistakes, but if I have hesitations, I know I’m going to fail more.

My motivational factor is just to be great. My family has worked hard to put me in this position, and I’m not gonna mess it up or let them down.

God has given me a great opportunity to be at TCU, so I run out on the field full speed knowing he’s taking care of me. That’s why I commit myself to always bringing the energy. When I face criticism in practice on or off the field, I take it, build on it and convert it into more energy.

My dog, Duke, is about as energetic as I am. When I’m not on the field, I’m hanging out with him — playing, going on walks, or stopping him from chewing things up. And I spend every minute I can with my family.

My transfer to TCU was all about coming back home. As soon as I hit the transfer portal, I knew exactly where I was coming. It was Fort Worth or nowhere.  

— As told to Lily Margaret Greenway

Editor’s Note: These responses have been edited for length and clarity.