TCU football loses its first player to the transfer portal since Gary Patterson’s exit
TCU football has lost its first player to the NCAA transfer portal since parting ways with longtime coach Gary Patterson.
Junior quarterback Matthew Downing is leaving the program, Downing announced on his Twitter account Wednesday night.
“I have entered my name into the transfer portal as a graduate student with 2 years left of eligibility,” Downing wrote. “Thank you for everything, TCU.”
Downing joins wide receiver TJ Steele as the only players to leave the program midseason so far. Steele entered the portal in early October.
Downing opened the season as Max Duggan’s backup but has since been passed on the depth chart by Chandler Morris.
Downing’s only extended action came in the opener against Duquesne, going 3 of 4 passing for 26 yards.
In 2020, Downing started the season opener with Duggan working his way back from a heart condition that sidelined him much of preseason camp. Downing served in the backup role once Duggan returned, and then found himself in a more crowded QB room this offseason when Morris transferred in from Oklahoma.
Downing will be heading to his third school. He started his college career as a walk-on at Georgia in 2018 before coming to TCU.
Morris is expected to start this weekend. TCU travels to No. 10 Oklahoma State on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Stillwater.
Recruit decommits
As expected with a coaching change, TCU has seen another 2022 recruit decommit.
Four-star wide receiver DJ Allen out of Gladewater announced Thursday that he would be decommitting from the Frogs and re-opening his recruitment.
Along with Allen, other decommits since TCU parted ways with Patterson include four-star WR Matthew Golden, three-star WR CJ Nelson, three-star defensive back Ja’dais Richard and three-star defensive tackle Trevon McAlpine.
TCU still has seven players committed to the 2022 class, according to 247Sports. It is ranked 77th nationally and No. 9 in the Big 12.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 9:40 AM.
