TCU was Stephon Brown’s only Power Five offer. He’s using that as motivation
Max Duggan is the favorite to be TCU’s starting quarterback in 2020. He showed flashes as a true freshman, throwing for 2,077 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Most expect Duggan to take a step forward as a sophomore, particularly with his accuracy since he completed just 53.4% of his passes in 2019.
But he’ll have competition for the starting job. JUCO dual threat Stephon Brown, is expected to sign his national letter of intent Wednesday with the Horned Frogs on National Signing Day.
Brown expects to push and compete for snaps with Duggan and Matthew Baldwin.
“Absolutely. My whole life I’ve competed,” Brown said. “That’s the type of player I am. It’s nothing personal, we’re teammates, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to help the team.
“Everyone deserves a shot at the end of the day.”
Brown, who is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, will join TCU from Independence Community College in Kansas. He threw for 1,430 yards with 16 touchdowns, and rushed for 546 yards and seven scores last season.
At Glenn High School in Kernersville, North Carolina, Brown threw for more than 10,000 yards in his standout high school career.
“I’m labeled as a dual-threat quarterback, but I’d rather sit in the pocket and throw the ball,” Brown said. “At the same time, if I have to run, I’ll do that. When it comes down to it, I’m going to do whatever it takes. I want to come in and be the best player and young man I can be.”
Brown feels like he’s an under-the-radar prospect. TCU was his only Power Five offer, as he also considered Southern Miss, Temple and Akron.
“Being under-rated, I just use it as motivation,” Brown said. “I know I deserve to be in the Power Five. I’m sure any of my coaches and teammates will go to bat for me — I’m just as good as anybody else.”
Growing up in the North Carolina area, Brown watched plenty of Cam Newton and he feels his game is similar to the Carolina Panthers signal caller. His other favorite quarterbacks include Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers.
“I try to be myself out there, but I like taking different parts from other quarterbacks,” Brown said. “I like the leadership by Russell Wilson, the running by Cam Newton and the throwing on the run by Rodgers.
“But, at the end of the day, I have to be myself. I feel like I can improvise. I never feel like a play is dead when I’m on the field. On fourth-and-one, I’m the one who wants the ball.”
Staff announcements
TCU coach Gary Patterson is expected to formally address staff changes during his signing day news conference today.
TCU has brought back Doug Meacham as a wide receivers coach, and also hired Bryan Applewhite as a running backs coach. The program is also bringing in veteran head coach Jerry Kill to oversee the offensive side of the ball, a newly created position that isn’t counted among the 10 on-field assistants.
The expectation is for Patterson to discuss his staff changes as well as the incoming class.
WR watch?
TCU made a big-time splash during the early signing period by flipping Temple four-star wide receiver Quentin Johnston from Texas. Johnston is a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds.
The Horned Frogs could make more wide receiver headlines on Wednesday. Marshall wide receiver Savion Williams is strongly considering signing with the Frogs and is scheduled to make his announcement Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
Along with TCU, Williams has also drawn interest from Arkansas and SMU. Texas also tried to get in on Williams late in the process.
