The vibe around Fort Worth is different this year. Honestly, if you’re looking at the TCU depth chart football situation and expecting the same old song and dance from the 2022 miracle run or the 2023 slump, you’re looking at it wrong. Sonny Dykes isn’t just shuffling players; he’s essentially rebuilding the identity of the program on the fly.
It’s messy. It’s competitive. And frankly, it’s exactly what the Horned Frogs need after a season that felt like a massive hangover.
When you dig into the roster, the first thing that hits you isn't the star power—it’s the sheer number of "OR" designations. Coaches use that "OR" when they want to light a fire under someone, or when two guys are playing so well they can't decide. At TCU, it’s a bit of both. The depth chart isn’t just a list of names; it’s a living document of a locker room battle.
The Quarterback Room: Not Just the Josh Hoover Show
Everyone assumed Josh Hoover had the keys to the kingdom. Why wouldn't he? The kid threw for over 2,200 yards in basically half a season last year. He has that gunslinger mentality that Dykes loves. But here’s the thing: availability is the best ability, and Hoover spent a chunk of the spring sidelined with a back injury.
That opened the door.
Ken Seals, the Vanderbilt transfer, didn’t come to Fort Worth to hold a clipboard. He’s a veteran. He’s seen SEC defenses. While Hoover has the higher ceiling and the bigger arm, Seals brings a level of "don't screw it up" stability that the coaching staff finds alluring when the game gets tight in the fourth quarter. Then you have Hauss Hejny. He’s the local kid from Aledo, a four-star with wheels that make him a nightmare in space. He’s probably the future, but in today’s TCU depth chart football landscape, the future usually has to wait until the present gets out of the way.
The battle at QB changes the entire geometry of the offense. With Hoover, you’re looking at a vertical threat that stretches the secondary until it snaps. With Seals, it’s about efficiency and hitting the intermediate stuff. Watching how Andy Ludwig (the new offensive mastermind brought in to steady the ship) balances these styles is going to be the story of the first four weeks.
The Offensive Line Is a Massive Question Mark
If you want to know why TCU struggled to find rhythm last year, look at the trenches. It was a revolving door. This year, the TCU depth chart football lists some massive humans, but chemistry is a different beast entirely.
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Bless Harris, the Florida State transfer, is basically tasked with being the blindside anchor. He has the size. He has the pedigree. But can he stay healthy? Behind him, it gets thin fast. Ben Taylor-Whitfield is a name to watch at tackle—he’s got the frame of a pro but is still learning the nuances of the college game.
Inside, things are a bit more settled with Remington Strickland (the Texas A&M transfer) and James Brockermeyer (Alabama). It’s a "Transfer Portal All-Star" line. That’s the reality of modern college football. You don’t grow your own O-line anymore; you rent them from teams that didn't play them enough. It’s a risky strategy. If these five guys don't gel by the time Big 12 play starts, it won't matter if Patrick Mahomes is taking snaps under center.
Defensive Identity Under Andy Avalos
Forget everything you knew about the Joe Gillespie 3-3-5. It’s gone. Buried.
Andy Avalos is in town, and he’s bringing an aggressive, four-man front mentality that changes the TCU depth chart football priorities on defense. We’re talking about a "Stud" position—a hybrid defensive end/linebacker whose only job is to cause chaos.
Key Names on the Defensive Front
- Paul Oyewale: He’s the twitchy end who could have a breakout double-digit sack season.
- Nana Osafo-Mensah: The Notre Dame transfer provides the "grown man" strength needed to stop the run in a physical Big 12.
- Caleb Fox: The veteran presence in the middle who eats up double teams so the linebackers can actually do their jobs.
The linebackers are where things get spicy. Namdi Obiazor is the heart of this unit. He transitioned from safety, and you can tell—he hits like a truck but covers like a hawk. Beside him, Johnny Hodges is back. Hodges is the guy who looks like he’s played 10 years of college football. He’s the "coach on the field" trope, but it’s true. He sets the alignment. Without him, the defense looked lost last year.
The Receiver Room is Absolutely Loaded
If there is one area where the TCU depth chart football looks elite, it’s out wide. Savion Williams is a freak. There’s no other word for it. He’s 6'5", 225 pounds, and runs like a deer. He’s the guy NFL scouts are drooling over, even if his stats haven't always reflected his talent.
But it’s the guys around him that make this dangerous.
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Eric McAlister came over from Boise State after putting up ridiculous numbers. He’s a contested-catch specialist. Then you have JP Richardson, the reliable slot guy who catches everything thrown in his zip code.
Wait. There’s more.
The Frogs added Braylon James from Notre Dame and Drake Dabney (the Baylor tight end transfer). Dabney is a massive addition. TCU hasn't had a legitimate, pass-catching threat at tight end since... well, it’s been a while. Putting a 6'5" tight end in the middle of the field forces safeties to make a choice: do you double Savion on the outside or do you stop Dabney from carving up the seam?
Secondary Concerns and the "Nickel" Problem
The Big 12 is a passing league. Period. You can have the best pass rush in the world, but if your corners can't hold up for four seconds, you're toast.
Avery Helm is the lockdown guy. He’s experienced and doesn’t panic when the ball is in the air. On the other side? That’s where the competition is fierce. Channing Canada and LaMareon James (Old Dominion transfer) are fighting for that CB2 spot. James is a playmaker—he had multiple defensive touchdowns last year—but he’s adjusting to the speed of the Power 4.
The safety spots are a bit more secure with Bud Clark and Abe Camara. Clark is a ball-hawk. If a QB gets lazy with a deep ball, #14 is usually the one coming down with it. The real intrigue is the "Nickel" or "Star" position in Avalos's scheme. It requires a player who can blitz, play man coverage, and fill the gap against the run. That’s a lot to ask.
Special Teams: The Hidden Edge
People ignore special teams until a kicker misses a 35-yarder with two seconds left. TCU can't afford that.
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The TCU depth chart football lists some interesting battles here, especially at returner. JoJo Earle and JP Richardson have the experience, but keep an eye on some of the freshmen. Major Everhart has speed that looks fake on tape. If he gets a crease, he’s gone.
Kicking duties are likely a battle of consistency. In a league as balanced as the new Big 12—where Arizona, Utah, and UCF are all legitimate threats—three points here and there will decide who goes to Arlington and who stays home for the holidays.
Real Talk: The Schedule Impact
The depth chart doesn't exist in a vacuum. You have to look at the grind. TCU doesn't have a traditional "easy" stretch. Opening against Stanford on the road is a sneaky tough test. Then you have the rivalry games. SMU is coming to Fort Worth with a chip on their shoulder as they move to the ACC.
This is where the "depth" part of the depth chart matters. By Week 8, you aren't playing your starters; you're playing your "2s" and "3s." Last year, the drop-off from the first string to the second string was a cliff. This year, it looks more like a gentle slope. That’s the progress Dykes was looking for.
Why This Depth Chart Matters More Than Last Year
In 2022, TCU was the "Team of Destiny." They had a veteran QB in Max Duggan and a defense that came up with huge stops at the right time. In 2023, they were a team searching for an identity.
The 2024-2025 TCU depth chart football feels like a "reset." It’s built on the portal, yes, but it’s also built on competition. Nobody’s job is safe. That’s a healthy place for a program to be. If Josh Hoover feels Ken Seals breathing down his neck, he’s going to be a better quarterback. If the offensive line knows there’s a four-star freshman ready to take their spot, they’re going to block better.
What to Watch Moving Forward
If you're following the Frogs this season, keep these three things in mind as you track the roster:
- The "Stud" Production: If the hybrid LB/DE spot isn't producing sacks, the whole Avalos defense falls apart. Watch the sack numbers for the guys at that position early in the season.
- Red Zone Efficiency: TCU moved the ball well last year but died in the red zone. With Drake Dabney at tight end, that should change. If they are settling for field goals against teams like Oklahoma State, it’s going to be a long year.
- The Tackle Rotation: Watch how many snaps the backup tackles get. If the starters are playing 70+ snaps a game, they will be gassed by November. A healthy rotation is a sign of a playoff-caliber team.
The reality is that TCU is currently in the "middle class" of the Big 12, but they have "upper class" talent. The TCU depth chart football shows a team that should be competing for a top-four spot in the conference. Whether they actually do it depends on how well these new pieces fit into the puzzle.
Go look at the names again. Remember the transfers. Watch the "OR" spots. The season isn't won on paper, but the depth chart tells you exactly where the battles are being fought before the lights even come on at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Track the Transfer Snaps: Monitor how many snaps transfers like Bless Harris and Ken Seals get in the first two weeks. High snap counts for transfers usually indicate a lack of confidence in recruited depth.
- Watch the Injury Reports: Specifically, keep an eye on the offensive line and Josh Hoover’s back. Any setback there shifts the entire strategy of the offense.
- Identify the "Star" Player: In the Avalos defense, one player usually emerges as the statistical leader in "tackles for loss." Finding that player early will tell you who the defensive focal point is.