TCU football is seeing some separation in the backup QB battle
TCU football knows who will be the starting quarterback. Nobody is going to unseat junior Max Duggan this fall.
But the battle for the backup job is up for grabs between returning junior Matthew Downing and Oklahoma transfer Chandler Morris. Freshman Sam Jackson has impressed early on in his career and is expected to compete for a starting job one day, but he’s not expected to challenge for the backup job by opening day.
Coach Gary Patterson offered insight into the backup battle on Wednesday.
“To be honest with you, Downing has been the No. 2 guy,” Patterson said. “Sam has been coming on and Chandler is a good player … we just need to move forward.
“Downing has had a really good camp.”
Downing, who is listed at 6-foot, 206 pounds, has the most experience in TCU’s system. He was the opening day starter last season as Duggan missed most of preseason camp with a previously undetected heart condition discovered through advanced COVID-19 tests.
Downing played the entire first half against Iowa State in the 2020 opener, completing 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown. The TD was a 37-yard pass to Quentin Johnston.
Duggan played the second half.
Downing saw action in three more games last season. The most extended time he received was in a 59-23 victory over Kansas as he went 3 of 4 for 10 yards.
Downing joined the Frogs before the 2019 season as a walk-on after starting his college career as a walk-on at Georgia in 2018.
Morris, meanwhile, joined the program as a transfer from Oklahoma this offseason. Morris, the son of former Arkansas and SMU coach Chad Morris, played in five games for the Sooners last season, going 3 of 5 passing for 39 yards. He also rushed for two TDs.
Jackson arrived on campus in the spring as a highly touted four-star recruit out of Naperville (Illinois) Central High School.
Duggan is TCU’s top option at quarterback even though the team struggled in passing offense last season. Duggan is coming off a 2020 season in which he threw for 1,795 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He led the team in rushing with 526 yards and 10 TDs.
TCU opens its season against Duquesne on Sept. 4. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
