TCU football roundup: Transfer news, finalizing coaching staff, 2021 schedule and more
The college football offseason has officially arrived with Alabama winning the national championship on Monday.
But there’s really no “offseason” for programs these days. There’s always something happening. Here’s the latest TCU news:
Transfer updates
TCU saw two players enter the NCAA transfer portal this week. Offensive lineman Kellton Hollins announced his intentions to play next season as a graduate transfer with hopes of pursuing his doctoral degree. Hollins played in seven of 10 games for the Horned Frogs in 2020, including one start.
Safety Atanza Vongor also entered the portal. Vongor, a four-star prospect coming out of South Grand Prairie, battled injuries early in his career and saw limited playing time the past two seasons. Vongor ends his TCU career with two tackles.
Coaching news
TCU coach Gary Patterson has not addressed — at least publicly — how he plans to fill the coaching void left when offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie bolted to Texas Tech.
Signs point toward Doug Meacham assuming the OC role and Kenny Hill being promoted from analyst to quarterbacks coach. Meacham essentially served as the coordinators last season with Cumbie being stripped of play-calling duties. And Hill is viewed as an up-and-comer in the coaching industry who has the ability to relate and connect with recruits.
Sources indicated that the quarterbacks had some of their better practices during bowl prep with Hill in charge.
However, until Patterson makes it official, it is subject to change. Patterson did not make a formal announcement on his 2020 staff until February last offseason.
2021 schedule
TCU is scheduled to host seven games next season with nonconference matchups against Cal, SMU and Duquesne. The Big 12 home games will be against Baylor, Kansas, Texas and West Virginia.
The Cal game is scheduled for Sept. 11 and the SMU game on Sept. 25. Those are the only known dates for now.
TCU and Cal had a home-and-home series set for 2020-21 with TCU scheduled to play at Cal last season. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, that game never happened.
TCU wouldn’t be able to play a return game at Cal until the 2031 season. The Frogs have already scheduled nonconference Power Five games against Cal (2021), Colorado (2022-23), Stanford (2024, 2027), North Carolina (2025-26), Duke (2028-29) and Purdue (2030).
With that being said, it will be interesting to see if the programs agree to play the games a decade apart. Another option could be to explore a neutral-site game. Las Vegas and Los Angeles would make sense as possible destinations as those cities just opened new stadiums in 2020.
Briefly
▪ The Big 12 had four teams finish in the AP’s final Top 25 poll: Oklahoma (6), Iowa State (9), Texas (19) and Oklahoma St (20). TCU and West Virginia were among the programs receiving votes. The last time TCU was ranked in the final poll was 2017.
▪ Among the early enrollees who have arrived, or are expected to, include Trent Battle, Noah Bolticoff, Alexander Honig, Chase Jackson, Sam Jackson, Jasper Lott, DJ Rogers and Kenny Turnier. TCU’s spring semester starts next Tuesday (Jan. 19).
