After a lengthy and unusual offseason, TCU is finally in game week as the Frogs will host Iowa State at 12:30 p.m. Saturday to kick off their season.
The biggest question four days before kick off is who will be the starting quarterback? Max Duggan has been cleared to play, but hadn’t been practicing until recently. Matthew Downing got plenty of reps, but he too missed time this camp. Stephon Brown is the newest addition to the quarterback room.
No matter who is under center for the opener, junior wide receiver Taye Barber will have confidence in them.
“Everything that the offense would do no matter who is back there we’re going to have the confidence,” Barber said. “I just can’t wait to get on the field and we’re going to do what we do.”
Downing is still most likely to start and Barber has seen plenty of positives out of the redshirt sophomore.
“He has that confidence. No matter who is back there it’s not going to make a difference,” Barber said. “We all prepare the same. We’re all teammates. We’ve got each other’s backs. It doesn’t matter who is back there.”
Barber was second on the team last year in catches (29) and yards (372) in an offense that sputtered quite a bit. With the re-additon of Doug Meacham to the staff, Barber could see his production greatly increase.
“We’ve been more aggressive. A lot more play calls. A lot more routes we can run. More versatile,” Barber said. “Another mind in the offensive staff room so I can’t wait to see what they got together.”
That versatility is something we’ve already seen a lot of out of Barber. As a freshman he had 32 catches and 303 yards and two scores, but played more outside receiver last season.
“I love it. I’ll take advantage of it anytime, any day of the week,” Barber said. “Anything they ask me to do I’ll do with no questions.”
A long with the return of Meacham, the offense should get a lift with the addition of JD Spielman, the transfer from Nebraska who had 49 catches and 898 yards last year.
“He ups everybody’s game with what he does at practice. He’s a great football player,” Barber said. “I’m just so glad he’s at TCU. We can do so many things on the offensive side with him on our team.”
Jeff Gladney, TCU’s top corner in 2019, was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft so those lockdown duties fall to Noah Daniels, who has battled injuries throughout his tenure with the Frogs. But he’s healthy now and ready to battle.
“He’s a great corner. Has great speed. He really hones in on his craft. He’s a really good corner and I can’t wait to see what he does Saturday because he’s really good,” Barber said. “I’ve not gone up against him a lot, but when I do it’s a battle every time.”
