For the first time in months — almost two years — Kenny Hill threw passes in live competition.
“I was up in the stands taking pictures and saying thanks to the fans,” the TCU coach said. “I’ll watch it tomorrow.”
What he’ll see is perhaps a decent indicator of what the Horned Frogs might have at quarterback in the fall. Hill, a junior transfer from Texas A&M who found his way back home to Tarrant County, threw with confidence and strength in a public scrimmage Friday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
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The team did not keep stats, but Hill completed somewhere around nine of 20 passes for about 75 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. He and sophomore Foster Sawyer both had some passes that went off the receiver’s hands, and other that were broken up by strong defensive plays.
Tonight, Kenny started because it was his turn to start with the 1’s. We’ll go into fall camp with two guys working to be the starting quarterback.
TCU coach Gary Patterson
But the numbers didn’t matter, either for Hill or Sawyer, who also completed roughly half his passes — going about 7-for-15 for 80 yards, one interception and no touchdowns.
Hill got the first chance with the ball. He got six possessions, Sawyer got five. They resulted in three points. Total.
So neither was very productive, and not much was decided. The quarterbacks remained in the same position they were when the night started.
“Tonight, Kenny started because it was his turn to start with the 1s,” Patterson said. “We’ll go into fall camp with two guys working to be the starting quarterback.”
No. 3 quarterback Grayson Muehlstein had the only touchdown, a 13-yard strike on a slant to JC transfer Taj Williams. No. 4 quarterback Brennan Wooten also played.
Of their performances?
“We dropped too many balls, from what I saw,” Patterson said.
Sawyer had one field goal drive. One of Hill’s drives ended in a long field goal miss of 47 yards by Ryan Graf.
There were highlights and lowlights for all of the quarterbacks.
Defensive end Tipa Galeai of Euless Trinity had a 65-yard interception return of a Sawyer pass that he tipped to himself. Sawyer was looking for KaVontae Turpin on a receiver screen, and Galeai got a hand on it and made an athletic play to catch the ball and stay on his feet.
Sawyer put a ball over the shoulder of Deante’ Gray, who adjusted for a nice 33-yard catch, setting up a 29-yard field goal by Jonathan Song.
Muehlstein twice fumbled deep snaps, but he also hit Zach Allen with a zipped pass for 18 yards off a scramble.
We dropped too many balls, from what I saw.
TCU coach Gary Patterson
Hill was “sacked” twice, but he also showed his running ability with two nice scrambles. Both were stopped by whistles to protect the quarterback. One scramble looked as if it would convert a long third down, but it was stopped by a quick whistle. Hill turned and put his hands out as if wondering how he got touched.
Patterson will see it all on the film.
But he already has his impressions from the 14 previous spring practices.
“We’ve got to catch the vertical ball better,” Patterson said. “But that was the same problem we had two years ago coming out of spring when we had a new group. We’ve got to throw and catch the vertical ball better. That’s what they’ve got to do between now and August.”
Nothing will be missed in August.
Carlos Mendez: 817-390-7760, @calexmendez
The scrimmage was the last of 15 spring practices for TCU. The Horned Frogs will assemble next for fall camp in August.
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