TCU’s 2026 outlook may end up hinging on the kinds of players who don’t always grab the headlines. The Frogs have some major names to replace, including Eric McAlister and Josh Hoover, and the challenge now is building a team that wins in the aggregate rather than leaning on a few stars. That’s where a few unlikely difference-makers come in.
Start with special teams, where TCU brought in John Hoyet Chance from LA Tech. The portal addition arrives with a strong résumé, having been an All-C-USA punter who handled the job at a high level.
That matters because TCU was not good in net punting last season, finishing 111th out of 134. Last year’s punter, Ethan Craw, netted 37 yards on his punts, while Chance netted 43, which ranked sixth in the country.
That kind of jump can change field position in a hurry, and the Frogs are likely to need it early with a challenging non-conference slate and a new offensive coordinator working through the usual early-season wrinkles. Chance should pair with kicker Kyle Lemmerman to give TCU a more stable kicking game.
On defense, Max Carroll is the name to watch. The redshirt junior from Memphis, Tennessee, has been around long enough to build some buzz, but TCU still hasn’t seen him fully break out.
Linebacker has been a key spot in Sonny Dykes’ defenses, and the championship run showed what that position can mean when it’s loaded. Dee Winters was one of the standouts from that group, and Carroll has the athletic profile to fill a similar kind of role if everything clicks.
At 6-3, he brings both size and speed, which gives TCU options: he can drop into coverage or attack the quarterback. He still has plenty to learn, but this season should give him the reps to show whether he can become the kind of anchor the defense needs.
Up front, Ben Taylor-Whitfield may be the most important of the bunch. He’s projected to start at left tackle, and with a right-handed quarterback, that spot carries enormous weight.
TCU has had issues on the offensive line over the last two years, and line coach AJ Ricker is under pressure after the strong play the unit showed during the championship run. Taylor-Whitfield has the size to handle the job, but technique will decide whether he keeps it.
He’ll need to clean up his hand usage and handle movement on pin-and-pull concepts better, and the penalties that stalled drives last season have to go. If he takes a real step forward, he could end up in the kind of role Brandon Coleman once played for the Frogs.
TCU doesn’t need these players to become stars overnight. It needs them to be reliable, productive, and better than expected. That’s often the difference between a team that looks good on paper and one that actually keeps winning.