Five quarterbacks whom TCU football could target to replace Josh Hoover
After the news of Josh Hoover’s departure on Thursday night, TCU football is already turning the page to seek its next quarterback.
Replacing Hoover will be a daunting task, but not impossible. The Horned Frogs will prioritize bringing in a quarterback who has starting experience and one who could lead next year’s quarterback room that will only feature redshirt freshman Adam Schobel and true freshman Jack Daulton.
“We’re going to bring in a quarterback that has experience and has played football,” head coach Sonny Dykes said Friday. “We’re very excited about Adam Schobel and what he’s going to become. We had a meeting, and I told him our plan. Our plan is to bring somebody in, create competition for that spot, and then winner will take it and run. We’re gonna want to bring in somebody that has started games, has experience.”
A number of big-name quarterbacks have already announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal like Florida’s DJ Lagway, Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola and Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt.
It’s still early in the process, but TCU is likely to go with other options besides getting in a bidding war for the biggest names.
With that in mind, here are some realistic options TCU could prioritize in the transfer portal:
Colton Joseph, Old Dominion
Joseph is an early name circulating as a possible option. He will be a junior next season and is a true dual-threat quarterback.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Joseph threw for 2,624 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, and he also rushed for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Monarchs, who finished 10-3.
In 2024, Joseph was honorable mention All-Sun Belt after starting eight games and appearing in nine. Joseph threw for 1,627 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, and he also rushed for 647 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Joseph completed 59.7% of his passes this season and 59.9% in 2024. His mobility could mesh well with new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis and his new scheme, which will prioritize revitalizing TCU’s run game.
Jaden Craig, Harvard
Craig has been a standout in the Ivy League. Over the past two seasons, Craig threw for 5,299 yards and 48 touchdowns while completing 61% of his passes. He also led Harvard to its first FCS playoff appearance this season.
Listed at 6-3, 230 pounds, Craig would be a senior next season, which would fit nicely with TCU’s timeline with Schobel and Daulton. Craig threw for 300 yards five times this season and also had five games with three or more touchdown passes. Craig owns many of Harvard’s passing records, including career passing yards and touchdowns.
Craig is expected to have multiple Power Four schools coming after him. He and Joseph are two early names generating the most buzz.
Braden Atkinson, Mercer
Another FCS quarterback likely to make the jump to the FBS level is Atkinson.
The 6-1, 215-pound quarterback had an impressive freshman season, throwing for 3,596 yards, 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the Bears, who finished 9-3.
Atkinson checks the box with his production, but would TCU want to bring in a quarterback with that many years of eligibility remaining? Signing a sophomore could impact the Horned Frogs’ younger quarterbacks.
Katin Houser, East Carolina
A former Michigan State transfer, Houser has spent the past two seasons at East Carolina and has emerged as one of the American Conference’s top signal-callers.
The 6-3, 222-pound Houser threw for a career-high 3,300 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions this season while completing 65.9% of his passes.
It was an improvement upon his junior season when he completed 60.8% and threw for 2,006 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Houser would be a junior next season.
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
Chiles is likely a long shot, but could be an option depending on his market.
The 6-3, 225-pound Chiles is rated a four-star transfer by most services, but that is based on his physical traits rather than his production.
Chiles was inconsistent in 2024 with 2,415 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 59.4% of his passes. He also rushed for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Chiles improved this season by completing 63.1% of his passes for 1,392 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games for the Spartans, who finished 4-8. Chiles added 227 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Chiles would be a senior next season.
