FORT WORTH, Texas — Max Duggan has started 29 games at TCU’s quarterback, and Chandler Morris had 531 yards of total offense in his only complete game last fall. New Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes has yet to say which of them will take first center in Friday night’s season opener at Colorado.
TCU’s starting depth chart lists either Duggan or Morris as the No. 1 quarterback.
“I think we’re in a good place,” Dykes said Monday. “Obviously Max Duggan has a significant resume. He’s played a lot of snaps in the last three years here at TCU, he’s played very well… Chandler is the same way. You look at some of the games he played in last year he played exceptionally well. So both have experience and both have done it.”
Dykes expects Duggan and Morris to play in the opener, as well as Sam Jackson, the redshirt freshman who completed 77 yards to Taye Barber on his only pass attempt last season. The coach said he doesn’t think it matters who starts.
“It’s a fun group. I really like the guys,” Dykes said. “Sam certainly brings a different element to the room…I would anticipate all three of them playing, and I expect all three of them to play well.”
Duggan, the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and a four-star recruit before coming to TCU, threw for 5,920 yards with 41 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 32 total games for the Horned Frogs. The senior has also rushed for 1,433 yards and 19 more touchdowns.
After Duggan played with a broken foot bone for several games last season, Morris got his first start in a 30-28 win over Big 12 champion Baylor in TCU’s first game after Gary Patterson and the school mutually agreed to separate. Morris threw for 461 yards, rushed for 70 and even caught a pass. His 531 total yards were second most in school history, but he was hurt in the next game.
Morris, the former transfer from Oklahoma, is still listed as a redshirt freshman after completing 50 of 76 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns in his four games last season. He had a TD run for the Sooners in their Big 12 championship game win over Iowa State in 2020.
Senior offensive lineman Steve Avila, the team captain, said the Frogs trust whichever quarterback is playing.
“The only thing we really know is that there is a change in the voice,” Avila said.
“Everyone runs the offense their way,” Barber said. “Everyone brings different things to the table, and I feel like everyone is positive.”
