Horned Frogs Huddle

Devean and Markis Deal 

Brothers Devean and Markis Deal credit their work ethic to their parents, Nicki and Mike, who reflect on their sons’ shared football careers.

Markis and Devean Deal with their parents, Mike and Nicki Deal, and younger siblings, Zoey and Braylon. Courtesy of the Deal family

How long have you been playing football?

MARKIS: Pretty much my whole life. When I was 3 years old, even though I wasn’t “allowed” to play football yet, I’d play two years up on my brother’s team in scrimmages and try to learn as much as I could.  

DEVEAN: When we were really young, we played on the team our grandpa coached, the El Paso Thunder. We’ve played together three times — as little kids, during high school and now here at TCU.

MIKE (Dad): My dad was their coach, and he was my coach when I started playing the game. That first year, it was so much fun to see our boys grow and fall in love with the game of football. Devean would be standing at the foot of our bed at 6 a.m., dressed in his uniform and holding all of their gear, and I’d sit up and say, “What are you doing? We’ve got two hours before the game!” Markis, on the other hand, was a little harder to get out of bed.   

Young Devean (left) and Markis (right). Courtesy of the Deal family

How are Devean and Markis similar? And how are they different?

MIKE: They both love the game. Both have always been sticklers for rules — they want to play the game the right way. And they are also both coaches on the field. They have a higher IQ for football because they were always learning at home. At school, they were the teacher’s kids, and at practices, they were the coach’s kids, so they always had certain expectations and pressures from their classmates and teammates.  

NICKI (Mom): Looking at their personalities, Devean and Markis couldn’t be more different. But they both strive to be better and work harder in what they put their minds to. And I’m proud that they’re good people, too. 

How did TCU get on your radar?

MARKIS: Coming out of high school, I was blessed to be a big recruit who got to talk to and tour a lot of schools, which was a much different process than my brother’s recruitment during the Covid era. Every time I visited a new campus, my dad and Devean were the biggest help in determining what mattered to me in a team culture. TCU was the best fit for me by a long shot. As soon as I got the offer, I knew I would fit here. 

DEVEAN: I had more of a roundabout journey to TCU. I played for Tulane for the last three years. After we lost the American Athletic Conference Championship, my coach decided to leave, and I debated entering the transfer portal.

Markis (left) and Devean (right) sporting their El Paso youth league uniforms. Courtesy of the Deal family

I talked to Markis a lot about my decision because TCU was never on my radar until he got there. It would have been awesome to play with him earlier, but in the old defense, there wasn’t a role for me. When Coach [Andy] Avalos got the job and a new opportunity opened, I knew an offer from TCU would be a top target for me. I was actually on my way to a meeting with the new Tulane head coach about staying there when I got the news that Markis and my little sister Zoey had been in a bad car accident. Getting that call from my sister immediately made me realize I wanted to be closer to my family. I wanted to come home and play for TCU. 

MARKIS: Every week, Devean and I run out of the tunnel and see our whole family waving in the stands. Knowing we have that support behind us means the world. Being able to talk to my parents after the game or hug my mom after a tough loss is such a blessing.  

Markis (left) and Devean (right) after a Naaman Forest High School football game in nearby Garland, Texas. Courtesy of the Deal family

DEVEAN: Over the last couple of years, Markis and I have been split between two teams, and with mine playing over seven hours away, our parents haven’t been able to make many of my games. They tried to find ways to fly out or split up for the weekend, but now it’s easy for them to come to one place. I’m not constantly thinking about the fact that Markis and I get to be down here together, but every once in a while, when we both get called to go out there at the same time for a play, I’ll think, “It’s kind of awesome playing with my brother.”

NICKI: In my head, seeing them together was something I always wanted as we were taking all of those college visit trips, but I never wanted them to choose their school for each other. I hoped each of them would make a decision that would fit their position and their dreams individually, but seeing all of the pieces fit and being so close to home is an answered prayer. 

Who do you look up to?

MARKIS: I’ve always looked up to my dad and Devean. My dad played football at UTEP, so he’s been through the same journey as us in collegiate athletics, and he’s always been there motivating us. Ever since I was a kid, I watched whatever Devean did and tried to mimic it. I remember seeing him do drills when I was younger — back when I wasn’t really into sports — and wanting to participate just because my older brother was doing it.  

DEVEAN: Our dad has always been our character coach, but our mom is right there next to him. She played collegiate sports, too, so she understands the grind. She wore number 11 when she played volleyball and basketball, which is the reason why I wear it on my jersey now.

Markis (No. 95, center-left) and Devean (No. 11, center-right) have each recorded 2.5 tackles for loss this season. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

MARKIS: Dad kept us out of trouble, but Mom talked us through it when we made a mistake. Having them teach us and grow us differently instilled good morals into us ever since we were kids. I always want them to be proud of how they raised us.

What is your favorite memory of Devean and Markis playing together?

MIKE: I still remember Markis’ first sack. Devean got up and celebrated like it was his own. Similarly, in their high school playoffs, Devean had a big touchdown, and Markis, who was playing O-line at the time, blocked for Devean. They celebrated in the end zone together.   

NICKI: I think most of my favorite moments of them playing together were when they were little. Markis was always “the little Deal,” and now he’s bigger than Devean! But Markis always managed to work hard and play up a few years so he could be on the same team as Devean. I still remember when they were playing on the Spartans, cheesing and posing for picture day in their black and gold uniforms. But today, I cherish just watching the excitement they always have for each other’s wins. They always celebrate each other. 

 — Lily Margaret Greenway

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

Giveaways Lead to the Frogs’ Third Loss 

Former Southwest Conference and Conference USA foe Houston took a 14-13 series lead with a 30-19 win over the Frogs last Friday night.  

Coming into Fort Worth, the Cougars had lost nine consecutive games to TCU, a streak dating back to Halloween night in 1992.  

Houston’s offense, which had been held scoreless in its past two games, was reinvigorated with quarterback Zeon Chriss under center for his first start as a Cougar. 

The Frogs lost the turnover battle 4-0. Quarterback Josh Hoover threw two interceptions, his fifth and sixth of the season. 

“We just made too many mistakes,” said head coach Sonny Dykes postgame. “We’ve got twelve turnovers in the last three ball games. That’s not playing winning football.” 

With the defeat, TCU fell to 1-2 in conference play as they head into a bye week, followed by a Week 8 test at No. 16 Utah.

Here are five takeaways from the Frogs’ third loss of the season. 

Turnovers Haunt the Horned Frogs

Hoover has been among the most electrifying signal-callers in the country this season, pushing out 18 total touchdowns and more than 330 passing yards per game for the Big 12’s No. 2 scoring offense. 

But since throwing to an 8-to-0 TD/INT ratio Weeks 1 through 3, he’s committed six interceptions over 117 attempts. The pair of picks he threw Friday night came in the span of four first-half passes. 

Quarterback Josh Hoover closed last Friday’s loss to Houston with 233 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions on 23-of-37 passing. Photo by Percise Windom

“I’ve obviously made some bad decisions at times,” Hoover said after the game. “Got to get that figured out. Take this bye week and figure out how to move on and how to fix that.”

The sophomore QB also lost a fumble as TCU tried to mount a last-minute comeback. His top target on the night, JP Richardson (nine catches for 98 yards), coughed one up himself in the third quarter. 

The Frogs’ -2.2 turnover margin is third worst in the nation through the midpoint of the regular season. 

Savion Goes Up to Get One

With just over two minutes remaining in the second quarter, 6-foot-5 Savion Williams came down with touchdown catch No. 4 on the season, tying a career-high. 

Fifth-year senior Savion Williams has been a steady presence for the Frogs’ receiving corps, his 31 catches and four touchdown receptions ranking second on the team through six games. Photo by Percise Windom

Williams was included on Bruce Feldman’s College football Freaks List for a second consecutive season in early August. The annual rankings recognize the nation’s exceptionally athletic players. 

Williams’ 40-inch vertical factored into his landing 47th on the list of 101. The leaping ability was evident on his Week 6 TD snag. 

The fifth-year senior also drew a pass interference penalty on a third-quarter end zone target, advancing the Frogs to the 2-yard line to set up Jeremy Payne’s first career touchdown run on the next play. 

Bech is Bound to Break One

You can’t hope to stop him — only to contain him, and temporarily at that.  

Recent Biletnikoff Award watch list addition Jack Bech was held to two catches and 21 yards in the first half but rebounded in the second, strong-arming a Cougar defender and staying on his feet en route to a 29-yard TD reception that pulled the Frogs within eight points with 9:25 to go. 

Bech has gone beast mode this season. The senior is on a 12-game pace for a 78-catch, 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown campaign. 

Jack Bech fought his way into the end zone on this fourth-quarter score. Photo by Percise Windom

Cook Comes to Play

Running back Cam Cook came in hot, opening the night with an 11-yard run en route to a team-high 77 rushing yards on a game-high 14 carries. At 5.5 yards per attempt, it was the sophomore’s most efficient outing of the year. 

The Frogs couldn’t get much else going on the ground, otherwise accumulating minus-11 rushing yards as a team. 

Jordan Jumps Off the Tape

Austin Jordan stepped in at nickelback after Abe Camara was ejected for targeting and backup Jaise Oliver got hurt; the Texas transfer notched his first tackle for loss in two years while tying for fifth on the team with four stops on the night. 

The defense generated another 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including a trio of solo sacks from linebackers Namdi Obiazor and Cooper McDonald and defensive lineman Zachary Chapman. 

Obiazor also led the team in tackles, tying a season-high with 11.  

Individual numbers impressive as they were, the Frogs defense gave up 30-plus points for the third time in the last four games.  

“We just have to stick together,” Obiazor said. “Offense, defense and the coaching staff.” 

 — Corey Smith 

The six leaders selected by their teammates each describe their focal values: Passion, perfection, toughness, focus, domination and love. 

Captains Savion Williams, Brent Matiscik, Chase Curtis and Josh Hoover gather for the coin toss against Long Island University on Sept. 7. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

Savion Williams

Senior     Wide Receiver     Marshall, Texas

No. 3 has always been my favorite, and I wore it on my jersey in high school. But when I finally got the number back last year, it took on a whole new meaning. I wear No. 3 because I play for my family of three — my daughter Legacy, my lady and myself. 

I started my football career with a chip on my shoulder and the goal of proving a lot of people wrong. But my mindset changed for the better when I became part of this team. I bought into a greater vision of being united under one focus and discipline while each carrying out our roles. That’s how I believe we win games and grow to be successful together.  

Savion Williams celebrates a touchdown against UCF. Photo by Percise Windom

I define success as finally accomplishing something you’ve had your eyes on for a while and committing yourself to make it happen. I’ve had some fun moments on this team — my favorite being catching the last touchdown against West Virginia two years ago — but my identity has expanded beyond just being a student-athlete. I’m now a husband, a father and an individual receiving his degree in December. But I would not have this success without the influences who have pointed me in the right direction — from my coaches to my teammates to the family I represent on my jersey. 

Josh Hoover

Sophomore     Quarterback     Heath, Texas

I’ve been playing football practically since I came out of the womb. But the locker room is what brings me the most joy. 

Every morning, I pray that I can positively impact each of my teammates. Encouraging others feeds me. You truly are who you believe you are, so when you have someone who is on your side, it helps you develop confidence. I want to be that guy for everyone. 

There is something special about contributing to a purpose bigger than yourself, and we have a team full of selfless guys who do just that. Everyone has an important role — even the guys who aren’t playing every Saturday. Two years ago, I was on the scout team. It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me. I now know what it’s like to be on the other side of the ball and can lead accordingly. 

Josh Hoover readies for a snap during TCU’s Sept. 14 game against UCF. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

As a leader, I strive to imitate my ultimate role model, Jesus Christ. I’m nowhere close to where he was when he walked this Earth, but I’ll never stop working to be more like him. I also look up to the incredible examples set by my parents. They always wanted my siblings and me to work hard at what we loved to be successful, but they were more focused on us being great kids. That’s all I am, really—a kid who tries to show compassion toward others and make them feel special.

Of course, I want to win games and play professionally, and looking back on this season, I hope it’s a championship. But I’ll measure the success of this year by the way our team loves and shows up for each other. I think if we do those things, we’re going to like the result.  

Brent Matiscik 

Senior     Snapper     McKinney, Texas

On the field, being a captain means doing your job, making sure you’re leading by example and showing what it means to be the top guy in your position group. But off the field, it’s about carrying yourself the right way and serving as an example for the program.

When I think about the great leaders I’ve played with on this team, names like Andrew Coker, Max Duggan and Garret Wallow come to mind. Each of them held themselves and the team to a higher standard and made sure everyone was bought into accomplishing great things together. I love getting to know everybody here because I learn from every single person on this team — whether it’s a new skill, a piece of advice or a change in perspective. It’s an honor to join the list of the team’s leaders. 

Brent Matiscik snaps a ball to place holder Easton Black during TCU’s Sept. 14 football game against UCF. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

I commit to leading with loyalty, effort and actions. My teammates can count on me to do the right thing and get everything done the way it’s supposed to be handled. I always want to play mistake-free on the field, which only happens when I pour in a lot of effort and grit. As a specialist, I don’t have 90 plays a game to prove myself. I have maybe 10 chances to make good moves, so I focus on being perfect during those 10 opportunities to put myself and my team in the best situation. 

Bud Clark

Junior     Safety     Alexandria, Louisiana

When you meet me, the first thing I want you to know is that I’m a ball of energy. I get that from my mom. She and I are the exact same person — loud, funny and constantly feeding off of other peoples’ energy. If someone has a bad day, we’re quick to come in and say, ‘Come on, let’s get up and get going!’  

My mom raised me on her own, so she made me who I am. Watching her, I learned the value of hard work and being able to bounce back from tough situations. We don’t let circumstances hold us back. Instead, we make the best of every day and do it with smiles on our faces. 

Bud Clark participates in the school’s alma mater. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

With new teams in the conference this year, we’ve got to dominate like Alexander the Great! But my main goal this season is to be present wherever I am. When I’m at football practice, I’m working with a conference championship on my mind. When I’m at home, I’m focused on being a father. When I’m in class, I’m a student working to earn my master’s degree. But in everything I do, I’m centered on the gratitude of waking up every day, doing something I love and making others smile along the way.

Chase Curtis

Senior     Tight End     Pittsburg, Kansas

When I finish my seventh and final season of college football this year, I hope one thing I can look back on with confidence is that I led by example. It’s easy to say things; it’s harder to do them. Walking into the facility every day as my consistent and competitive self is important to me. I’ve always been a hard worker in everything I do — from how I lift to how I practice to how I fuel my body. We get to play football; we don’t have to. And it’s an opportunity I’ll never take for granted.

The night I got the offer to walk-on for TCU football, I remember sitting in the stands of the stadium with my dad. He didn’t blink at the price tag that came with following my dream. He just asked, “What are you going to do here?” I told him I was going to make the most of it. And I think that’s what I’ve done. I didn’t want to let down anyone who has taken the time to help me grow.

Chase Curtis corralled his second career touchdown during a Week 2 win over Long Island University. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

It’s hard to imagine I’m exactly where I dreamed of being five years ago, but I’m focused on enjoying the moment and not getting too caught up in what’s next. I’ve come a long way from sitting in those bleachers, but I still have a lot of work to do. I like to think I’ve made my dad proud and brought honor to my team. But I’m not finished yet.

Johnny Hodges

Junior     Linebacker     Darnestown, Maryland

My entire life, my dad has had this saying, “Everything works out for the Hodges.” The mindset that everything happens for a reason gives me the focus that things will work out exactly how they should, and I can sleep easy as long as I give my all every day and show compassion towards others.

Being named captain is my proudest accomplishment. I don’t care about any individual accolades; knowing my team selected me as a leader is more than enough for me and makes me realize I need to step it up even more. I do things a bit differently than everyone else, and people either love it or hate it. I’m an energetic, passionate, hardworking guy who keeps my head down, but I also love to laugh and goof around. Now that I’ve been chosen to lead my team, I’m setting the tone to grow in maturity and remain calm, cool and collected on and off the field. I want to be a leader for this entire community, not just for the guys I’m on the sidelines with.

Johnny Hodges chasing down a Long Island University ball carrier. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

Each of us captains brings something different to the table. Chase is quiet, but he’s really gritty and hardworking. Savion is so talented, so he also leads by example. Hoover and Brent are the more vocal captains, always encouraging the team. And then Bud’s the jack of all trades. It’s a nice little mix. And the six of us together, well, I think we’re doing a good job so far.

 — As told to Lily Margaret Greenway

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

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.