2016 WVU Football Summer Preview: TCU Is Still Loaded Despite Losing A Ton Of Talent To The NFL

The TCU Horned Frogs will visit Milan Puskar Stadium on October 22 in what should be an evenly matched contest. TCU has a two-game winning streak against the Mountaineers and hold a 3-2 lead in the all-time series.

In 2015, TCU destroyed the Mountaineers in Fort Worth 40-10 on the heels of a big game from Trevone Boykin. The Horned Frogs’ quarterback threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns and added 84 yards rushing on the ground while hitting his favorite wide receiver Josh Doctson 12 times for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

Game #6: TCU Horned Frogs

Wikipedia

Last season, the Horned Frogs thought they had a real shot to reach the College Football Playoff, but a surprise 49-29 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma State and a 30-29 loss at Oklahoma kept Gary Patterson’s club from reaching that goal.

Boykin is gone. Doctson is gone. Kolby Listenbee is gone. Aaron Green is gone. Even top corner Kevin White is in the NFL, but the Horned Frogs still have plenty of talent to match up against the Mountaineers.

TCU Offense Will Still Pack A Punch

Despite all of the losses on offense, the Horned Frogs should still be quite explosive on offense in 2016. Texas A&M transfer, and former five-star prospect, Kenny Hill is expected to be the starting quarterback for TCU this season, but he will have to beat out redshirt sophomore Foster Sawyer in camp for the job.

The skill position players to watch for TCU are wide receivers Deante’ Gray and KaVontae Turpin. Both players have an abundance of speed and should provide a number of big plays for the Horned Frogs in 2016.

Horned Frogs’ Defense Returns Seven Starters

Patterson’s calling card is on the defensive side of the ball so it was more than a surprise to see TCU finish 63rd in FBS in total defense in 2015. The unit should be much improved heading into 2016 as there are seven starters returning including linebackers Montrel Wilson, Ty Summers and Travin Howard who make up the best group in the Big 12.

Although White has moved on to the NFL, junior Ranthony Texada should be able to step into his role as the team’s shutdown corner. In addition, the Horned Frogs present a trio of safeties in their 4-2-5 alignment that will provide plenty of versatility and athleticism.

Prediction: Competitive Battle

If you have a chance to get tickets to this game, do it. Patterson is one of the best coaches in the entire country and he’ll have the Horned Frogs ready for the hostile environment that is Milan Puskar Stadium.

This game is really going to depend on how the Hill and/or Sawyer are able to perform with 60,000 rabid, screaming Mountaineers fans breathing down their necks. If either guy can block out the crowd and not turn the ball over, the Horned Frogs could certainly walk away from Morgantown with a victory.

That being said, I believe the home crowd will give the Mountaineers a slight advantage and allow WVU to earn a tight 33-31 victory as Country Roads blares through the speakers of Milan Puskar Stadium once again.