{"id":260706,"date":"2026-04-22T05:32:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T05:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/260706\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T05:32:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T05:32:29","slug":"the-tcu-position-battle-that-could-shape-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/260706\/","title":{"rendered":"The TCU Position Battle That Could Shape 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The wide receiver position has never been a problem for TCU<\/a> throughout the course of the Sonny Dykes tenure. Whether it be Quentin Johnston\u2019s spectacular 2022 campaign that enabled him to be a first-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, the two-headed monster that was Savion Williams and Jack Bech, or the dynamic Eric McAlister<\/a>, the Horned Frogs have always prided themselves on having excellent pass catchers on the perimeter over the past several seasons.<\/p>\n

But with the departure of McAlister to the NFL, the question of who that next big-time wide receiver for TCU will be is up in the air. In many ways, it\u2019s that question that will define just how potent the Horned Frogs offense can be. Sure, the quarterback position is also a bit of a question mark \u2014 Jaden Craig is a known commodity, though it\u2019s uncertain how he\u2019ll perform at the FBS level \u2014 which affects how the receivers perform, positively or negatively. That said, if there were ever to be a season where a TCU receiver elevated himself above the rest, it\u2019s reasonable to argue that 2026 would be the most ideal of them all.<\/p>\n

Dwyer’s the Leading Contender for “Top Dog”\"TCU<\/p>\n

Nov 29, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Jordan Dwyer (7) catches the ball but cannot stay in bounds for the completion during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

On paper, there are many candidates for the \u201cbreakout wide receiver\u201d role, but there can only be one \u2014 at least in theory \u2014 that claims the top spot. Jordan Dwyer, a redshirt senior from Puyallup, Washington, is the obvious choice to find his footing as the top pass catcher in Fort Worth. In his first season as a Horned Frog, Dwyer showed flashes of brilliance, with his opening game performance against North Carolina taking the cake. He was overshadowed by McAlister\u2019s brilliance for the most part, however, which put him on the back burner of a lot of people\u2019s minds as the season came to an end. Still, Dwyer\u2019s output was more than good enough, and his return was one of the many bright spots for TCU this past offseason. Should he elevate his game to another level, then there\u2019s no doubt that he can be one of the best pass catchers Fort Worth has seen in a while.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s definitely not a certainty. Add in the fact that there are other contenders for the top spot, and it becomes even muddier for Dwyer.<\/p>\n

\"TCU<\/p>\n

Dec 30, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Terry Shelton (15) catches the ball against Southern California Trojans cornerback Marcelles Williams (25) in the first half during the Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Enter Terry Shelton, a redshirt freshman who, in brief game action, showed just how awesome he can be with the ball in his hands. His best moment came in the Alamo Bowl versus USC, where he caught two passes for 27 yards. That\u2019s obviously not the most absurd production in the world, but it was the quality of the catches that really stood out. His performance throughout the spring<\/a> has also drawn eyes.<\/p>\n

Crowning Shelton as the top wide receiver on the team is probably a bridge too far at this exact moment \u2014 it\u2019s hard to name someone who, when they\u2019ve only caught three passes in their college career, though it\u2019s easy to see why his talent is so heavily regarded by both TCU\u2019s coaching staff and the fans. If Dwyer isn\u2019t able to ascend to the level some think he can, then Shelton is right there to take up the mantle and (hopefully) lead TCU across the metaphorical finish line.<\/p>\n

Watch Out for Everhart and Small\"TCU<\/p>\n

Oct 25, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Texas Christian University Horned Frogs wide receiver Major Everhart (3) makes a move around West Virginia Mountaineers safety Derek Carter Jr. (13) during the second quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

If you thought Dwyer and Shelton were the only two options here, you\u2019d be sorely mistaken. Several other key contenders exist on the roster, though these players are much longer shots. In other words, it would take quite a miracle if any of the following athletes are the Frogs\u2019 leading receivers at season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

Major Everhart, Dozie Ezukanma, and Ed Small all have experience playing in the purple and white. For Everhart, his breakout has been long in the waiting, and there would be no better time than the present for that to occur. Ezukanma is another intriguing figure. Just like Shelton, he saw limited action in 2025 but still showed some flashes that there was more to the eye. Then there\u2019s Small, who, unlike the previous two receivers, played a big role in TCU\u2019s offensive plans during this past season. If it weren\u2019t for some unfortunate injuries, there\u2019s no doubt that he would have been a larger piece of the puzzle than he otherwise was.<\/p>\n

So, who\u2019s going to be the top wide receiver for TCU in 2026? Right now, it\u2019s hard to say, though Dwyer is definitely the guy based solely on superiority and past production. He would be the easy bet heading into fall camp. Still, there\u2019s always room for more than one awesome receiver on a roster, and TCU would sure love to say that it\u2019s a part of that club.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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