Sonny Dykes eager to watch position battles as TCU football opens preseason camp
TCU finally started the first day of preseason training camp Friday as the Horned Frogs prepare for their Sept. 1 season opener at North Carolina.
In terms of physicality it was a light day for TCU, with the Horned Frogs not going full pads for a few more practices. Day 1 was still productive for TCU, as a number of key players who missed all of last season were able to practice fully.
Among them was defensive end Paul Oyewale, who missed all of last season and spring camp this year. Oyewale started eight games in 2023 and was second on the team with three sacks.
His absence was noticeable last season as TCU was limited with its depth on the defensive line, but a healthy Oyewale provides a major boost for a TCU defense that has high expectations for itself this season.
“It means a lot, Paul’s a big, strong guy,” linebacker Namdi Obiazor said after practice. “He’s also had a few snaps, I’m pretty sure he started that 2023 season. It’s good to have another returner like that back.”
Also making their return to practice were cornerbacks Avery Helm and Vernon Glover Jr. Helm was a full-time starter in 2023, while Glover was set for an increased role in 2024.
The two sustained season-ending injuries on back-to-back days in fall camp last season, severely affecting TCU’s cornerback room.
“Getting Vernon and Avery back was huge at the cornerback spot,” Dykes said. “Those guys moved around well and looked comfortable. I paid particular attention to them to see how they bounced back coming off those ACL injuries, but I was happy to see those guys move around.”
Glover, Helm and Oyewale all project to be factors in what should be intense competition at cornerback and on the defensive line. Oyewale will try to push Zach Chapman at defensive end after Chapman was voted a freshman All-American last season and tied for second on the team with three sacks.
Chapman ran with the first-team defense during the open media portion of practice along with Ansel Din-Mbuh and Markis Deal at defensive tackle, plus Devean Deal at edge rusher. Those three should be solidified in the starting lineup and TCU has confidence that Oyewale or Chapman will be more than capable of starting alongside them.
“There’s five spots with the nickel safety, there’s 10 or 12 guys that could play in those five spots,” Dykes said. “You feel good about the two safeties (Bud Clark and Jamel Johnson) and their experience and what they’ve done, but you got some guys that are nipping at their heels a little bit.
“We have a ton of guys at corner, it’ll be fun to see how that plays out. There are guys that have really played well at that spot.”
On Friday, Channing Canada and Jevon McIver Jr. got the first-team reps. They were thrust into bigger roles last season with Glover and Helm sidelined.
The growth from that experience will now make the cornerback competition arguably the most intense one of fall camp.
“I thought Channing came on during the second half of the season and really played well. He carried on momentum through the spring,” Dykes said. “Jevon McIver did some really good things as well during the season and the spring. Then you got two really talented guys coming back, Avery’s got some experience and Vernon, who is really talented.
“Then you throw some other guys in the mix and you got a good group. It’s going to be competitive. I think it’s going to bring out the best in everybody going out there.”
Another position group battle to watch will be on the offensive line. TCU appears to be set with a starting five of Ryan Hughes, Cade Bennett, Coltin Deery, Carson Bruno and Ben Taylor-Whitfield, but Dykes said it’s too early to assume that will be the starting group in Chapel Hill.
“It’s way up in the air, there’s some guys working with the threes that will probably be able to get into the rotation some,” Dykes said. “There’s probably 12 guys competing for starting spots. I know that sounds crazy, but I really believe that. Some of those young guys are so talented, you got to find a way to get them on the field. That’s going to be the big thing for us, are we comfortable with the tackles?
“Is the third tackle better than the first guard? If so, we’ve got to get him trained at playing guard. That battle is going to be ongoing.”
There’s still a lot to sort out in training camp despite TCU returning so many players who have played big roles in the past.
But the vast amount of competition during camp should push the roster to improve, and in Dykes’ mind hopefully be exactly what TCU needs to prepare for North Carolina.
Day 2 of training camp was Saturday.
This story was originally published August 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM.
