TCU football coach names starting quarterback for opener but is mum on QB rotation plans
Matthew Downing is TCU’s starting quarterback.
Coach Gary Patterson made the announcement during a virtual media news conference on Tuesday, saying Downing is the top option when TCU opens its season against Iowa State on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Patterson refused to reveal how TCU might approach the QB situation throughout the game. Sophomore Max Duggan is available and an option to play, as well as third-stringer Stephon Brown. All three quarterbacks have different packages in the offense.
Patterson liked using two quarterbacks to start last season with graduate transfer Alex Delton earning the opening-day start before being replaced by Duggan. He wouldn’t tip his hand if that’s a similar plan this season.
“I don’t have a plan on that yet,” Patterson said. “It’s just Tuesday.”
As of now, Downing is the guy. The starting quarterback job is his after he stepped up the majority of training camp once Duggan was sidelined indefinitely with a heart condition.
Patterson said Duggan’s heart condition is something the program will monitor throughout the season, but he is available to play if needed.
“[Duggan] being back has been a big positive,” Patterson said. “Downing is fired up, Stephon is back and ready to go, so we’re getting ready to get where we need to get to.”
Patterson said Downing has been throwing the ball well, and receiver Taye Barber echoed that sentiment.
“He has that confidence,” Barber said of Downing. “No matter who is back there, it’s not going to make a difference. We all prepare the same. We’re all teammates. We’ve got each other’s backs. It doesn’t matter who is back there.”
Downing joined TCU as a walk-on last season. He started his college career at Georgia, walking on at his home state school and being the third-stringer behind Jake Fromm and Justin Fields in 2018. Downing saw minimal action that season for the Bulldogs.
Downing has impressed since arriving in Fort Worth. Last season, even though he didn’t see game action, Downing passed former top recruit Justin Rogers on the depth chart with better showings in practice and became a scholarship player in the offseason.
Downing has looked the part so far in preseason practices and scrimmages, coaches and teammates have said. The offense has been moving the ball and jelling together as a unit.
“We’ve been doing good. Everything has been clicking,” Barber said. “We’ve been getting timing right. No matter who is back there [at quarterback], we’re going to have the confidence. I just can’t wait to get on the field. We’re going to do what we do.”
TCU is looking to improve its passing offense in 2020 after a dismal 2019 season. With Duggan enduring expected growing pains as a true freshman quarterback, the Horned Frogs had the Big 12’s second-worst pass offense and the conference’s worst pass efficiency rating.
Patterson made adjustments to the offense this offseason, bringing in longtime friend and former head coach Jerry Kill as a special assistant and handing over play-calling duties to Doug Meacham.
TCU will know what type of strides it’s taken offensively on Saturday.
“You really don’t know until you play that first ballgame,” Patterson said. “For all of us coaches, we know that you’ve got to get through that first one to kind of know where you stand and what you’re doing.”
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 2:54 PM.
