TCU has named its starting QB in battle between Delton and Duggan
TCU has its starting quarterback.
Alex Delton will be under center when TCU takes on Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the season opener on Saturday, coach Gary Patterson said.
Patterson made the announcement during TCU’s media availability on Tuesday. But, before confirming Delton would be the starter, Patterson mentioned that true freshman Max Duggan would see action in the first quarter too.
The plan is for Delton to play the first three or four series, and then transition to Duggan afterward. It’s unclear how, or if, the snaps will be split going forward with a matchup at Purdue set for Sept. 14.
Patterson used a basketball analogy, calling Delton the “starter” since he’s the veteran and Duggan the “sixth man” since he’s a freshman.
“Right now, one’s the sixth man [Duggan] on the basketball team, one’s going to be the starter just because he’s older,” Patterson said. “Both of them carried themselves very well.”
Delton talked before Patterson’s announcement, but dodged questions about being the starter. But Delton is not lacking confidence going into the season.
He feels the healthiest he’s been since his freshman year at Kansas State. He feels mentally ready as a graduate transfer. And he feels like he’s had a great fall camp and is surrounded by the best talent he’s had in college.
“I feel better than I ever have,” Delton said. “Spring was kind of my trial run with the offense and everything. To see myself progress from then to the fall, I feel extremely comfortable with what we’re trying to accomplish.
“Coach [Sonny] Cumbie did an outstanding job teaching the offense to us and just making it to where we all feel like we can execute at a high level.”
The news of Delton being anointed the starter wasn’t too surprising considering he’s been the odds-on favorite since joining TCU in January.
Delton and Duggan were the two pushing for the starting job of late.
And it’s clear that Delton and Duggan will be pushing for snaps all season. Delton knows the starting job is not a given at this level. As Patterson loves to say, quarterbacks are judged on Saturdays.
“I feel like that’s every position, not only the quarterback position, you have to win your job every week,” Delton said. “Obviously we’re in the business of results. If someone is not performing, the next guy, see if he can perform better. That’s every position.
“That’s just the game of football. You want to put the best player on the field and put the best player that can make the team in position to win.”
Delton and Duggan emerged from a pack of six.
Junior Mike Collins injured his foot that cost him in the competition, sitting out every scrimmage during fall camp. Collins returned to practice last week.
Others in the mix included redshirt freshman Justin Rogers, who is still working his way back from a drop-foot condition, and Georgia transfer Matthew Downing.
Ohio State transfer Matthew Baldwin isn’t full-go yet following a cleanup surgery earlier this summer, and is expected to sit out this season after the NCAA denied his immediate eligibility waiver. TCU and Baldwin are in the process of appealing that decision.
In the end, TCU went with the most experienced quarterback in the mix. Delton is already viewed as one of the leaders of the team, and understands what it takes to succeed at this level.
Delton didn’t put up the most impressive numbers at K-State, playing in seven games (two starts) last season. He finished 44 of 80 passing for 554 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
But TCU and Delton believe better things are ahead with a new scheme and more playmakers at his disposal.
Duggan, meanwhile, is a promising talent. The son of a longtime high school football coach, Duggan is coming off a senior season in which he threw for more than 2,100 yards and 24 TDs, as well as rushing for 1,200 yards, in earning Iowa’s Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
Each are stepping into a favorable situation at TCU.
The Frogs simply need a quarterback who can manage the offense and not turn the ball over. This is a unit that has potential NFL Draft picks next spring at offensive tackle (Lucas Niang), running back (Sewo Olonilua and Darius Anderson) and wide receiver (Jalen Reagor).
That should take pressure off Delton and Duggan to try and do too much.
Patterson said “don’t turn the ball over” is the No. 1 rule for the quarterback this season.
“That’s the first start,” Patterson said. “Then manage the game. You have a good offensive line, you have a good tandem of running backs, you have great wide receivers ... get the ball in the hands of the people that are supposed to have the ball in their hands.”
This story was originally published August 27, 2019 at 12:37 PM.
