Like all of you, I’m ready for football to be back. The great games, nail-biting finishes and the unexpected things we’ve come to expect.
I like to take some stabs at bold predictions each season. These are going to be unexpected things for sure and probably none of them will happen. But if they do, look for a big “I told you so” from me.
Stephon Brown leads TCU in rushing touchdowns
A quarterback that will most likely be third on the depth chart is going to lead the team in rushing scores? Hear me out.
TCU has very unproven stable of running backs. Of course Zach Evans is getting all of the hype, but senior Emari Demarcado will get the bulk of the work early and he only had 18 carries last year. If Demercado, Evans, Darwin Barlow, Daimarqua Foster and Kendre Miller combine for 10 touchdowns in a nine-game schedule that’s just four less than Sewo Olonilua and Darius Anderson combined for in 12 games.
Brown is expected to have his own package of plays and there was a reason he was the top dual-threat JUCO quarterback in the nation coming in. He could bulldoze his way into five scores Cam Newton style in the goal line and lead this team.
Blair Conwright leads TCU in catches
A couple weeks ago Gary Patterson said Conwright was having the top camp out of his receivers. As a true freshman last year he had just three catches. The Frogs lost Jalen Reagor as their true number one wide out. That’s 43 catches he’s taking with him.
You lop off a quarter of the schedule and this season’s leader MIGHT break 30 catches. Taye Barber will be great, I’ve been high on Te’Vailance Hunt and he seems to finally be putting it all together and the Frogs added JD Spielman. But give me the guy that I’ve been driving the hype train for since he committed Nov. 5, 2018.
Austin Myers is this year’s Vernon Scott
This might sound weird, but I feel like there are some career similarities. Myers started nine and played in 10 games as a sophomore and played in 11, but started only four last year.
Scott played primarily on special teams as a freshman and sophomore. His junior year he plays in 11 games, starting only two, including the Cheez-It Bowl. As a senior he started 10 games, was fourth in tackles, he had a 98-yard pick-six and a fumble recovery against Oklahoma. He exploded his senior year and was drafted by the Packers. I think Myers turns himself into a draft pick with his play this year.
La’Kendrick Van Zandt leads TCU in interceptions
Sure you’ve heard of Trevon Moehrig and Ar’Darius Washington, but Van Zandt is primed to have a monster season. He only got four starts last year as he was splitting time at linebacker and safety, but this year he will be the third safety in what will be the best secondary in the Big 12, possibly best in the nation.
He had just one interception and that came in his only game at the strong safety position, against Baylor. So basically if he plays nine games at SS this year, he’ll get nine interceptions.
Parker Workman leads TCU in sacks
Ochaun Mathis and the rest of the defensive line struggled out the gate last season. My thinking is Mathis gets off to a much better start and forces coverage to protect against his side of the field and leaving Workman’s edge far less protected.
Workman only started the Oklahoma game last year and got his only sack against Baylor so this is maybe the boldest of all these calls, but Garret Wallow and Ross Blacklock led the team with 3.5 sacks each last year so there are sacks to be had this season and while Mathis is the main focus, look for Workman to get his fair share of work.
TCU will play for the Big 12 title this year
I’ve been talking about 2021 for the last calendar year, but after watching the rest of the Big 12 be less than stellar to start, I’m moving up that championship window.
TCU always wins 10 games after a losing season and to do that, the Frogs will need to be in the Big 12 title game. I get Oklahoma is always a threat, but freshmen quarterbacks tend to struggle facing Gary Patterson’s defense. I thought Oklahoma State was loaded and they struggled versus Tulsa. I thought Iowa State would be good too and they stumbled vs. Louisiana, but their defense did still look salty and Brock Purdy is a host unto himself. And well Texas is gonna Texas.
I love this team this year and if this year feels more like a battle of attrition more than any other year so if they can stay healthy this could be a great title chance.
