Analysis: What does TCU football’s post-spring depth chart look like?
Spring camp offered a glimpse of what TCU football’s lineup could be in the fall.
The Horned Frogs return much of the core of last year’s 9-4 team that finished ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press poll, which means there are many positions that already have their hierarchy sorted out.
But who will replace stars like wide receiver Eric McAlister and safety Bud Clark? Will it be young, ascending players or one of the transfers TCU brought in during the winter?
Here is what TCU’s potential two-deep looks like after 15 spring practices:
Quarterback
Starter: Jaden Craig
Backup: Adam Schobel
Breakdown: Craig was the biggest addition from the portal, brought in to replace Josh Hoover. Despite some rough showings in a few scrimmages, Craig performed well overall as he gets acclimated to a new team, scheme and a much tougher level of college football. Craig is more polished than Schobel at this stage of his career, but the future is still bright for the redshirt freshman.
Running back
Starter: Jeremy Payne
Backup: Jon Denman
Breakdown: Another position with an established pecking order, Payne and Denman will enter fall camp as the top running backs in the rotation. Payne rushed for 623 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, while Denman rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman.
Wide receiver
Starters: Jordan Dwyer, Terry Shelton, Ed Small
Backups: Jeremy Scott, Dozie Ezukanma, Major Everhart
Breakdown: Only one starter returns from last season, and that’s Dwyer, who will move into McAlister’s role as the No. 1 option. Small was the first man up when slot receiver Joseph Manjack dealt with injuries last season and will have an intense battle with Everhart in fall camp. Shelton performed the best at outside receiver, but Ezukanma also had a strong spring. Scott was brought in from South Alabama, but missed spring camp with an injury.
Tight end
Starter: Ka’Morreun Pimpton
Backup: Mason Peterson
Breakdown: The tight end position was among the most banged up during spring camp, so this will be one of the more difficult projections. Pimpton was able to get through camp healthy, and that gives him the inside track to start. Who his backup will be is the biggest question. Peterson and Lafayette Kaiuway missed spring camp, allowing Kari Ashley and Braden Bach to get more reps. When he’s been on the field Peterson and Kaiuway have showed a good mix of blocking and receiving potential.
Offensive line
Starters: Ben Taylor Whitfield (LT), Cade Bennett (LG), Jaheim Buchanon (C), Noah McKinney (RG), Ryan Hughes (RT)
Backups: Witten Van Hoy, Samir Camacho, Cooper Powers, Killian Registe, Wesley Harvey
Breakdown: TCU brings back three starters from last year’s unit in Taylor-Whitfield, Bennett and Hughes. The Horned Frogs brought in Buchanon from Florida International and McKinney from Oklahoma State to solidify the interior of the offensive line.
Van Hoy and Harvey had solid camps at tackle, as did Camacho and Registe on the interior before both endured injuries that knocked them out of camp. True freshman guard Devan Robinson is another player to know.
Defensive line
Starters: Paul Oyewale (DE), Markis Deal (NT), Ansel Din-Mbuh (DT), Zach Chapman (STUD)
Backups: Chad Woodfork, Kelten Mickell, Tristan Johnson, Koron Hayward
Breakdown: TCU brought back the entirety of its defensive line, which is one reason the program is optimistic about what it can do defensively this season. Chapman moves from defensive end to the Horned Frogs’ hybrid linebacker-pass rusher stud position with the staff wanting him and Oyewale to be on the field at the same time. Deal and Din-Mbuh were standouts on the interior last year.
Hayward was brought in from Western Kentucky and played stud while Chapman rehabbed from an injury. Johnson and Mickell were the most productive reserve defensive tackles. Defensive end will be interesting to sort out, as Woodfork will have plenty of competition to stave off to make the rotation. He’ll need a big fall camp to stay in this spot.
Linebackers
Starters: Max Carroll, Michael Short
Backups: Michael Teason, Anthony Williams
Breakdown: Replacing Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Namdi Obiazor will be a daunting task, as both players are expected to be selected in this weekend’s NFL draft. Carroll’s performance during camp put the staff’s mind at ease that there won’t be much of a drop-off as Carroll takes over Elarms-Orr’s position. Who plays beside him remains a question.
Short was brought in from Virginia Tech and had a strong close to camp, including an interception in a scrimmage. Teason is a reserve from last season, while Williams is a redshirt freshman looking to crack the rotation after taking a season to add weight.
Cornerback
Starters: Vernon Glover, Gil Jackson
Backups: Kalen Carroll, Teon Parks
Breakdown: The most improved position group, according to head coach Sonny Dykes, the corners are expected to be more productive this season with the emergence of Jackson. Glover was a starter last season and is another year removed from an ACL injury that made him miss all off 2024. Carroll and Parks are veteran corners with starting experience at the Power Four level, giving TCU a solid four-man rotation.
Safety
Starters: Jamel Johnson (SS), Jordan Lester (FS), Julius Simms (nickel)
Backups: Kaden McFadden, Jacob Fields, Kylin Jackson
Breakdown: Clark will be missed in the safety room, but TCU does return Johnson, an All-Big 12 selection last season. He was one of the top performers in camp and has All-American potential. The two other safety spots are up for grabs with Fields pushing Lester throughout camp. Fields was voted Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year at Louisiana Tech last season. Nickel is also up for grabs, and Simms and Jackson will battle in fall camp.
Specialists
Starters: Kyle Lemmermann (K), John Hoyet Chance (P)
Backups: Nate McCashland, Easton Black
Breakdown: Lemmermann should be the starter at kicker, but needs to be more consistent to hold onto his position. Chance was brought in from Louisiana Tech and had a solid camp.
