2025 TCU football preview: How will TCU replace Jack Bech and Savion Williams at receiver?
TCU football continued its recent trend of producing NFL wide receivers last season with Jack Bech and Savion Williams both being drafted in the second and third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bech was the nation’s breakout star last season as he went from having just 146 yards in 2023 to having 1,046 last year as TCU’s leading receiver. Williams was arguably the most versatile player in the country with 611 receiving yards and another 322 on the ground as a wildcat quarterback.
Williams saved TCU’s season down the stretch as he helped spark one of the nation’s worst run games, but both stars and starting slot receiver JP Richardson are all gone now.
Replacing three starters will be a daunting task, but with a returning star at receiver plus the work the staff did in the transfer portal, TCU is optimistic there won’t be much of a drop off this season.
The Star-Telegram continues its 2025 TCU football preview with a look at the wide receivers:
Wide receivers
Projected starters: Eric McAlister, Jordan Dwyer, Joseph Manjack IV
Next up: Dozie Ezukanma, Braylon James, Ed Small, Major Everhart, Jordyn Bailey
Depth: Terry Shelton, Dane Jones, Jacobe Hayes, Keagan Cunningham, Gekyle Baker, Parker Clark, Fletcher Fierro
Breakdown: McAlister enters the year not only as TCU’s unquestioned No. 1 receiver, but also as one of the best receivers in the Big 12. After producing 762 yards and five touchdowns last season behind three talented receivers, McAlister could have a monster year with more targets from Josh Hoover. McAlister was one of two Horned Frogs to earn preseason All-Big 12 honors and enters the year with high expectations for the year including gaining over 1,000 yards and being the next TCU wide receiver to reach the NFL.
Dwyer and Manjack were big additions in the transfer portal from Idaho and Houston, respectively. Dwyer was a 1,000-yard receiver last season and was one of top receivers during spring practice. Dwyer has game-changing speed and also showed he has strong hands with a number of tough contested catches. Dwyer showed that he can play against Power Four defensive backs and could end up being one of the more underrated pick ups from the portal.
TCU will be the third stop for Manjack after stints at USC and Houston. Manjack has over 1,000 yards in his career with his best season coming in 2023 when he had 577 yards and six touchdowns for the Cougars. Manjack hasn’t played with a quarterback as good as Hoover the last few seasons, so better quarterback play and more passing friendly offense could lead to big year for Manjack. Many around the program hope he will be a plug and play replacement for Bech.
Depth is the bigger question for TCU as the Horned Frogs are unproven and will need some younger players to step up. Everhart and Bailey will serve important roles as they represent gadget type of players that could generate chunk plays off of a jet sweeps or short screen passes. It would be a major bonus if both can get through fall camp healthy and serve as a changer of pace players during the season.
Small was one of the standouts during the spring as the early enrollee freshman got extended reps and played well beyond his age against TCU’s defense. With his advanced route running and catching ability, if Small has a strong fall camp he should be in the rotation.
James, Baker and Ezukanma are two breakout candidates after having smaller roles last year. A former four-star recruit, James transferred to TCU from Notre Dame and appeared in nine games last season. Ezukanma starred at Timber Creek and took a redshirt last season. Head coach Sonny Dykes praised Ezukanma’s performance during the spring and he’s another that should be in the rotation.
Baker was another former four-star recruit that will look to make an impact and move up the pecking order during camp. The rest of the group is comprised of walk-ons or incoming freshmen. Terry Shelton is the biggest name to watch from this group as his development will be a key storyline to follow. Shelton’s talent during the spring was obvious, but so was his youth as he had to get adjusted to the physicality of college defensive backs. But Shelton has worked hard through summer workouts and will hope to compete for a spot in the rotation.
Best case scenario: McAlister achieves alll his goals including having over 1,300 yards while Dwyer and Manjack have two of the best seasons of their career. Young players like Small, Ezukanma, James and Everhart make valuable contributions throughout the season giving TCU one of the deepest and most versatile wide receivers room in the Big 12.
Worst case scenario: McAlister is excellent, but the rest of the receiver room can’t matchi his production. Dwyer and Manjack end up being solid additions, but fall short off being able to replace Bech and Richardson. Meanwhile Everhart and Bailey struggle to remain healthy, limiting the creativity of the offense. Small, Ezukanma and James have their moments, but still look like they’re a year away from being real contributors.
