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<\/a><\/p>\nFORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Josh Hoover #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs looks to throw against the Texas Longhorns during the 2nd half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n
Josh Hoover (Quarterback – RS Jr. – 6 feet 2 inches, 200 pounds)<\/p>\n
A former three-star prospect from Rockwall Heath, Hoover redshirted in 2022 and served as TCU\u2019s backup quarterback at the start of the 2023 season, playing behind starter Chandler Morris. The Horned Frogs returned in 2023 with massive expectations after advancing to the national championship, but the 2023 season proved to be a struggle on both sides of the ball. Morris, who threw five interceptions in seven games started, suffered a knee injury halfway through the season, thrusting Hoover into the starting lineup. Despite mistakes in games against Nicholls and Iowa State, Hoover turned in a breakout performance against BYU, completing 37 of 58 passes for a season-best 439 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. TCU won the game 44-11.<\/p>\n
Hoover proved capable of commanding TCU\u2019s Air Raid offense, averaging 46 pass attempts per game over TCU\u2019s final six games of the season, all of which were started by Hoover. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder concluded his redshirt freshman season with a 344-yard, four-touchdown performance at Oklahoma to end his season with 2,206 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 62.9 percent completion rate. As the full-time starter in 2024, Hoover established new career-bests in several categories, throwing for 27 touchdowns and a new TCU single-season record of 3,949 passing yards. An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2024, Hoover ranked among the nation\u2019s leaders in pass attempts (471), completions (313) and he raised his completion rate to 66.5 percent. Turnovers were an issue, though, as Hoover threw 11 picks and fumbled six times, which tied with South Carolina\u2019s LaNorris Sellers for the most among Power 4 quarterbacks.<\/p>\n
Cutting down on turnovers and raising his completion rate a second time are two ways Hoover can plant himself on NFL radars in 2025. Making plays off schedule, including using his legs to pick up first downs and avoid the pressure, will be another area of Hoover\u2019s game to watch for as the Horned Frogs gear up for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n
WACO, TX – NOVEMBER 2: Eric McAlister #88 of the TCU Horned Frogs carries the ball against the Baylor Bears during the game at McLane Stadium on November 2, 2024 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n Eric McAlister (Wide Receiver – Sr. – 6 feet 3 inches, 205 pounds)<\/p>\n McAlister was the ultimate Sixth Man at wide receiver last season, his first in Fort Worth, posting 39 catches for 762 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 19.5 yards per catch, which ranked 12th in college football. McAlister\u2019s 19.5 average outranked multiple 2025 NFL Draft choices including Arkansas\u2019s Isaac TeSlaa, Ole Miss\u2019s Jordan Watkins, Ole Miss\u2019s Tre Harris and Illinois\u2019s Pat Bryant. A transfer from Boise State, McAlister showed an ability to make great runs after the catch, sprinting for an 84-yard touchdown against Texas Tech as well as a 59-yard touchdown against Kansas. With Savion Williams and Jack Bech sidelined for the New Mexico Bowl, McAlister went for 87 yards and a touchdown on eight grabs in TCU\u2019s 34-3 victory against Louisiana.<\/p>\n McAlister\u2019s big-play ability stems back to his time at Boise State, where over two seasons he averaged 19.5 yards per catch and went for over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns on fewer than 60 receptions. With Williams, Bech and J.P. Richardson off the TCU roster and in the NFL, McAlister is the clear No. 1 receiver of the Horned Frog offense, which accumulated over 4,000 passing yards in 2024. Should McAlister be able to consistently post catches and yards while maintaining his high yards-per-reception average, the Azle, Texas native should have no trouble planting himself on NFL radars before the start of the 2026 draft next spring.<\/p>\n KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 28: TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) during a Big 12 football game between the TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas Jayhawks on September 28, 2024 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n Bud Clark (Free Safety – RS Sr. – 6 feet 2 inches, 185 pounds)<\/p>\n One of only a few starters remaining from TCU\u2019s national championship run in 2022-23, Clark opted to return for a sixth season in Fort Worth despite earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors last year. A fixture of the Horned Frog secondary since 2022, Clark has posted 24 pass breakups and 11 interceptions over the last three seasons and has gained a reputation of being a ball hawk in the defensive backfield. Clark stepped up a tackler in 2024, notching a career-high 66 total tackles including 43 solo stops, also a career high. Moreover, Clark anchored a TCU secondary that was one of the best in the Big 12 against the pass last season, as the Horned Frogs allowed the third-fewest passing yards per game (185.2) and the fourth-lowest completion percentage (57.6). TCU\u2019s 14 passing touchdowns allowed, an average of only 1.07 per game, ranked second-best in the conference.<\/p>\n The Horned Frogs have sent several defensive backs to the NFL over the last few seasons, with cornerbacks Tre Tomlinson (2023), Josh Newton (2024) and Jeff Gladney (2020) as well as safeties Tre\u2019von Moehrig (2021) and Vernon Scott (2020) seeing their names called. Undrafted players like Ar\u2019Darius Washington, Mark Perry, Millard Bradford and Innis Gaines also made their way onto NFL rosters. After earning an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2022 and Second-Team honors in 2024, an ascension to First-Team status would be a tremendous resume builder for Clark, who has played in 50 games over his five years with the Horned Frogs.<\/p>\n FORT WORTH, TX – SEPTEMBER 14: TCU Horned Frogs linebacker Devean Deal (#11) runs up field during the Big 12 college football game between the UCF Knights and TCU Horned Frogs on September 14, 2024 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n Devean Deal (EDGE – Sr. – 6 feet 4 inches, 250 pounds)<\/p>\n The older brother of TCU defensive lineman Markis Deal, Devean arrived from Tulane and provided a punch as a pass rusher for the Horned Frogs, whose defensive scheme changed under then first-year defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, who enters his second year with the program. Named both an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the New Mexico Bowl, Deal led TCU in both tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (5.5) in 2024. While Deal wasn\u2019t named a starter at the beginning of the season, he earned his opportunity when Cooper McDonald sustained an injury. Deal, who started seven of the final eight games in 2024, finished seventh on the team with 46 tackles and posted at least one tackle for loss in six of the team\u2019s last seven outings.<\/p>\n Deal was a top transfer portal addition after a breakout 2023 campaign with the Green Wave, when he compiled 43 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles. Deal\u2019s 5.5 sacks showed an ability to make the leap from AAC to Big 12 football. Should the senior EDGE rusher turn in another strong season in 2025, he\u2019ll have a great opportunity to place himself on NFL scouting reports entering 2026.<\/p>\n SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 19: Kaleb Elarms-Orr #3 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates after a sack in the first half against the Utah Utes at Rice Eccles Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher\/Getty Images Getty Images<\/p>\n Kaleb Elarms-Orr (Linebacker – RS Sr. 6 feet 2 inches, 235 pounds)<\/p>\n Similar to how Eric McAlister played a Sixth Man role for the TCU offense, Elarms-Orr was a Sixth Man of the defense, finishing sixth on the team with 54 total tackles despite not starting a single game. A transfer from Cal, Elarms-Orr made his mark in the Pac-12, earning Second Team honors before transferring to TCU for the 2024 season. After the departure of three-year starter Johnny Hodges to the NFL, Elarms-Orr is primed for both a starting role and a breakout senior season with the Horned Frogs. Fans got a taste of what Elarms-Orr could do during the New Mexico Bowl, when he recorded eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the 34-3 win.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n