TCU focused on finishing strong, starting with No. 17 Kansas State
TCU has enjoyed a torrid start in the first year of the Sonny Dykes era.
The Horned Frogs have massively exceeded expectations, jumping out to a 6-0 start and a Top 10 ranking in both major polls. However, TCU understands that the 2022 season is far from being over.
“It’s been a good half of the season and we’ve accomplished a good bit, it’s been good to get off to a fast start. Really this season will be judged on how we finish,” Dykes said Tuesday.
No. 17 Kansas State has all the makings of being a potential pitfall for a team that is riding extremely high.
“Kansas State is a very good football team, I think in a lot of ways the most complete team we’ve faced this year. They’re hard to beat, they have a good formula. They’re playing with a lot of confidence and momentum,” Dykes said.
The Wildcats (5-1, 3-0) have the best defense TCU has seen thus far. While Kansas and Oklahoma State had good pass rushers on the defensive line, the Wildcats are solid at all three levels.
It’s a Top-15 in scoring defense and has allowed the fewest touchdowns in the Big 12.
“The team we’re playing this week, I honestly think they’re just as good, if not better (than Oklahoma State). They’re a sound football team, they don’t get out of their gaps,” offensive lineman Wes Harris said. “They’re going to make you bully them and beat them.”
Offensively, Kansas State has jumped TCU to become the top rushing offense in the conference. The Wildcats average more than 244 yards per game and have a two-headed monster with quarterback Adrian Martinez and running back Deuce Vaughn.
Vaughn is second in the conference in rushing; Martinez is fifth. They’ve combined for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns in six games. Martinez presents a challenge similar to Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders.
“They’re both dual threats, what they do with their legs is similar. But Sanders, he puts more air under the ball so you have more time to recover. Martinez, he throws it more on a line. He doesn’t hang the ball in the air, he wants to get it complete right now,” corner Josh Newton said.
As a result of the ground game, Kansas State is among the league leaders in time of possession. They’re used to having the ball for lengthy periods of time. The Wildcats will be committed to the run in a way the previous six opponents weren’t.
It’s a contrast of styles. Kansas State has shown it can win ugly (10-9 over Iowa State) or in a shootout (41-34 at Oklahoma). The Wildcats will likely prefer the game to be like the former and the defense will seek to be the first team to hold TCU under 38 points all season.
For a team that’s viewed as the most complete on its schedule, TCU will have produce its most complete game of the year. The Horned Frogs have gone long stretches showing brilliance on both sides of the ball. One half of that may not be enough against the gritty Wildcats.
Linebacker group takes another hit
TCU suffered a major setback with news that senior linebacker Marcel Brooks would be out for the remainder of the year after suffering a knee injury against Oklahoma State.
“He’s going to have surgery today so he’ll probably be out the rest of the year,” Dykes said. “We’re sad to hear that and we really hate it for Marcel, he’s just had a hard time staying healthy and there’s nobody that has worked as hard as he has to get back out there.”
Brooks missed the first three games of the season with a rib/shoulder injury before returning to action against Oklahoma. In two games against the Sooners and Kansas, Brooks had five tackles and provided a boost to the pass rush.
The former five-star prospect qualifies for a redshirt and will be back next season.
“I know he’ll come back and do everything he can to compete in spring ball and be ready by next fall,” Dykes said.
Avila earns major honor
Team captain Steve Avila was recognized as one of the best in the country at the midway point of the year. Avila was selected as a Midseason Associated Press All-American on Tuesday. Avila has started all six games at left guard and is considered the leader of the offensive line.
He anchors an offensive line that was recognized on the Midseason Honor Roll for the Joe Moore Award, presented to college football’s most outstanding offensive line unit. Avila is key in TCU being second in the nation in yards per play (7.7) while ranking third in both scoring offense (45.8 points per game) and total offense (526.7 yards per game).
This story was originally published October 19, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
