TCU football loses starting tackle for the season; key defender returns
TCU starting offensive tackle Ryan Hughes will miss the rest of the season, head coach Sonny Dykes announced Tuesday.
Hughes suffered a knee injury during the first half of the Horned Frogs’ 35-21 win over Colorado on Saturday. A three-star recruit from The Woodlands near the Houston area, Hughes earned a spot in the starting lineup despite being a redshirt freshman and started every game this season at left tackle.
Now the Horned Frogs will be without the promising offensive lineman at a time when they need every possible body as the unit seeks more consistency and physicality.
Hughes is scheduled to have surgery at the end of the week.
Junior Quinton Harris from Arlington Seguin High School is expected to start in Hughes’ spot, while freshmen Witten Van Hoy and Wesley Harvey could see more reps.
“Wes Harvey and Witt both are getting close to being ready to play,” Dykes said. “Those are two guys we have high expectations for, and the only way we’re going to find out if they can play is when we play them. I think we have tremendous confidence in both of them.
“I think Quinton did a tremendous job last week, and he played like we expected him to. We just gotta get a little more production at the tackle spot. [Junior Ben Taylor-Whitfield] is very athletic, but probably hasn’t played up to his potential. But I think he’ll have a great week this week and continue to get better.”
Ansel Din-Mbuh, Jeremy Payne expected back
It wasn’t all bad news, as Dykes announced that starting defensive tackle Ansel Din-Mbuh would be back Saturday at Kansas State. The junior missed the win over Colorado, but started the previous four games.
Depth on the defensive line will be crucial against a Kansas State team that is leaning more on its ground game.
Dykes also said TCU is hopeful that sophomore running back Jeremy Payne will be available against the Wildcats after missing last week’s game with a turf toe injury. Payne has 130 rushing yards, 78 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM.
