Led by Kevorian Barnes, TCU’s run game makes statement in opening win
When TCU signed Kevorian Barnes from Texas-San Antonio, the pickup went under the radar.
Barnes showed promise in 2022 and 2023 but saw his production plummet to just 221 yards last season. Many expected the senior to just be a situational running back used near the goal line and other short-yardage scenarios.
Yet after a stellar fall camp, Barnes emerged as TCU’s starting running back, though some still questioned why head coach Sonny Dykes and his staff would go with Barnes over younger backs.
It took just one game for Barnes to show why he was deserving of the job, as he rushed for 113 yards on just 11 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown to open the third quarter, in TCU’s 48-14 win over North Carolina on Labor Day.
After the season Barnes had last year at UTSA, he cherished this moment on the national stage.
“It means a lot. It’s just a testament to the hard work we put in.” Barnes said. “Some people don’t know the struggles that people go through when they have a down season like that. So just to come out here and come to a new program and be loved and brought in and get opportunities to make some plays, it’s just an amazing feeling.”
Kevorian Barnes brings consistency
When it comes to running backs, it’s easy for fans and pundits to focus on the flashier aspects of the position like explosiveness and elusiveness. Those two traits are extremely important, but there’s more to the position than just the highlight plays.
Oftentimes it’s not about breaking off the 30-yard run, it’s about consistently picking up four to five yards to keep the offense in manageable situations.
There’s also a mental advantage that comes with having a physical bell cow who wears the defense down. That’s what Dykes and the staff saw during the offseason.
“I thought Kevorian played well,” Dykes said. “We felt like he was going to be a tough guy to tackle and a powerful back. I just think he especially ran tough.”
Barnes’ willingness to block in pass protection also helped him earn the starting job. Barnes had a stellar block against the blitz in the first quarter that gave junior quarterback Josh Hoover enough time to find junior receiver Jordan Dwyer for TCU’s first touchdown.
Those types of plays don’t show up in the box score, but those are the winning plays TCU didn’t make enough of last season at running back.
“He’s a great blocker. He does a good job in pass protection,” Dykes said.
With Barnes leading the way, TCU piled up 258 rushing yards, more than the Horned Frogs had in any game last season.
Barnes also became the first TCU running back to have more than 100 yards in a game since Emani Bailey had 150 against Oklahoma in the 2023 season finale.
TCU running backs share wealth
After Barnes wore down the North Carolina defense physically and mentally, that allowed TCU’s younger stable of running backs to decimate the Tar Heels in the second half.
Senior Trent Battle went untouched for a 28-yard touchdown on his only carry, while freshman Nate Palmer had 61 yards while averaging 8.7 yards per carry. Sophomore Jeremy Payne and true freshman Jon Denman combined for 70 total yards as TCU showed its versatility at the position.
“That’s been an emphasis that we’ve had all spring, all summer,” Barnes said. “Run the ball, stop the run. I feel like these guys did a great job today, not just me but the whole unit. It’s just attesting to everything that we’ve worked for.”
Last year, TCU’s running backs all had similar playing styles, but now there’s a diversity of talent. Barnes is a bruiser, while Payne and Battle excel in space as runners or receivers.
Palmer and Denman are a blend of both with the power to run through defenders or the speed to run past them.
“I think the guys are four or five deep and and they’re good players, and they were all well-prepared,” Dykes said. “We got some different guys. I thought Jeremy Payne ran the ball well, and you got to see some of the young guys at the end of the game that I think are really, really talented, Jon Denman and Nate Palmer, and it’s good for Trent Battle to get a touchdown as well.
“So proud of that group, and we’ve come a long way at that position. I think we played physical, we played tough, and then that’s what we needed to do.”
There was no bigger beneficiary to TCU’s success on the ground than Hoover. After throwing 25 passes in the first half, Hoover attempted just 11 in the second half due to the success of the run game.
When he found out the run game had over 250 yards, his eyes lit up during the press conference.
“That’s awesome, I didn’t know that,” Hoover said with a smile. “We had some inconsistencies running the ball last year, so to come out tonight and do what we did on the ground is encouraging.”
