TCU No. 3 QB Sawyer ‘has edge’ for job if Boykin can’t play

TCU redshirt freshman quarterback Foster Sawyer goes into the practice week as the leading candidate to start Saturday at Oklahoma if Trevone Boykin can’t play because of his ankle injury.

Coach Gary Patterson said he bases that on Sawyer’s performance on Saturday against Kansas, when he took over in the third quarter for backup Bram Kohlhausen, who had been intercepted on the previous drive.

“Obviously we’ll see in practice,” Patterson said. “Foster, going into the Tuesday practice, has the edge from what I saw in the ballgame.”

Sawyer completed only one pass in his seven attempts, but it was a 42-yard touchdown to Shaun Nixon, and he also produced points on two other drives, which ended in field goals.

Kohlhausen, a senior, was 13-for-19 for 112 yards, no touchdowns and the interception.

Patterson said he won’t have an idea about whether Boykin can play until Friday or Saturday. He said the other quarterbacks should get a chance to get more repetitions in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He said Kohlhausen and Sawyer were “OK” against Kansas.

“Obviously, we only scored one offensive touchdown. That’s not what we’re accustomed to, so we’ll have to play a lot better,” Patterson said. “And to be honest with you, we’ll have to play a lot better in the red zone. This offense, we have to play a lot better in the red zone. Still move the football, can’t turn the ball over, but you’ve got to play better in the red zone.”

Doctson decision

Patterson said receiver Josh Doctson is expected to see a specialist again this week for his wrist as he and the team evaluate whether to continue to play him or give him a chance to heal for the bowl game.

“The biggest thing for him is he just wants to play really well,” Patterson said. “It’s one of those things were you’ve got to get used to it. So we’ll decide the pros and cons of doing that. Because if you go and permanently fix it, which it needs at some point in time to be done, then he needs some weeks and then he can be back.”

Doctson played last week with a wrap on his left wrist and hand. He caught one pass, leaving him one shy of tying the school record for career receptions.

Injury update

Patterson said the team will probably ask wide receiver Ty Slanina, who suffered an apparent broken collarbone against Texas Tech, to take a medical redshirt instead of playing against Oklahoma and Baylor.

Patterson said left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai will probably be available this week. He was hurt in the Iowa State game.

Patterson said left guard Jamelle Naff, hurt last week, will miss the Oklahoma game and probably the Baylor game.

Patterson did not provide an update on cornerback Nick Orr, who left the Kansas game in the third quarter.

Biletnikoff semifinalist

Doctson was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s oustanding receiver.

The senior from Mansfield Legacy leads the nation in receiving yards with 1,327, despite catching only one pass for 12 yards last week as he continues to recover from the wrist injury suffered two weeks ago.

Doctson’s 14 touchdown catches are tied for second in the nation, and his 79 receptions are fifth. His yards, touchdown catches and receptions are all TCU single-season records. He has also set the school career records for touchdown catches and receiving yards and is one shy of the receptions record.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 4:09 PM with the headline "TCU No. 3 QB Sawyer ‘has edge’ for job if Boykin can’t play."