TCU football’s new defensive line coach ‘very impressive,’ Sonny Dykes says
TCU football coach Sonny Dykes sees similarities between incoming defensive line coach JaMarkus McFarland and outgoing D-line coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe.
That’s among the things that stood out to Dykes as he went through the process of identifying his next D-line coach this week.
“He was enthusiastic and had a great interview,” Dykes said of McFarland. “Very good with the X’s and O’s and his personality was a fit in our staff. Really good recruiter and relationship builder. Very impressive. Reminds me of Chidera.”
McFarland rounds out Dykes’ staff after Uzo-Diribe left to join Georgia’s staff. He emerged as the clear favorite during the process.
McFarland, 31, is originally from Lufkin and went on to have a standout college career at Oklahoma. He was named an All-Big 12 freshman in 2009 and was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team member. The Sooners won three Big 12 championships and earned two berths in the College Football Playoff when McFarland played.
McFarland pursued a professional career before joining OU’s staff as a graduate assistant from 2016-18. He then went to Stephen F. Austin for three seasons before a brief stop at Louisiana Tech and now TCU.
Last season, SFA had 40 sacks, including 27 sacks combined by three defensive linemen coached by McFarland. SFA ranked No. 3 in the country in sacks last season.
TCU is looking to improve its pass rush as it ranked last in the Big 12 in sacks last season with 15.
TCU’s spring practices start on March 22 with the spring game set for Friday, April 22 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
This story was originally published February 11, 2022 at 9:18 AM.
