TCU’s march toward the 2026 season opener keeps ticking, and with 20 days left before the Horned Frogs face North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 29, the spotlight falls on a familiar number from the program’s past: No. 20, worn by former running back Jack Spikes.
Spikes was more than just a runner for TCU. During his playing days, he worked as a fullback, halfback and place kicker, and he put together a career that still stands out in Horned Frog history. He earned All-Southwest Conference First Team honors in both 1958 and 1959, picked up First-Team All-American recognition and was named MVP of the Cotton Bowl in 1959.
His production at TCU backed up the accolades. In 30 games, Spikes ran for 1,555 yards and nine touchdowns on 335 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per rush. He led the Horned Frogs in rushing in both 1958 and 1959.
That success carried him into the pro ranks quickly. In 1960, the Pittsburgh Steelers made him the sixth overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. He was also selected by the Denver Broncos in the AFL Draft, though he was traded to the Dallas Texans about a month later.
Spikes went on to build a solid AFL career, appearing in 86 games with 34 starts over eight seasons. He finished with 1,693 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, plus 56 receptions for 679 yards and three more scores. He also connected on 20 field goals and 75 extra points.
One of his biggest moments came with the Dallas Texans in the 1962 AFL Championship game, when he helped push the team past the Houston Oilers. In the second overtime, Spikes had a 10-yard catch and a 19-yard run as the Texans won the title.
His pro journey stretched beyond Dallas, too. He spent five years with the Texans organization before it became the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 1963 season, then later played for the Houston Oilers in 1965 and the Buffalo Bills from 1966 to 1967. Spikes was inducted into the TCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978.
In Other News...
TCUs First Scrimmage Left One Big Question Before North Carolina
TCUs first fall scrimmage on Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium offered a useful early look at where the Horned Frogs stand as they move toward the season opener against North Carolina. The offense had stretches that stood out, especially in the red zone, where it pieced together several quick scoring drives, while the bigger evaluation points were still clear across the roster as camp competition continues at receiver and safety.
Jaden Craig, the transfer quarterback drawing plenty of attention, showed enough to suggest why the staff is interested in him, but the deep-ball accuracy was inconsistent and left one of the most important questions hanging over the offense. For a team trying to sharpen both its starting lineup and its overall rhythm before the opener, the next stretch of camp will be about turning those flashes into cleaner execution in the spots that matter most. [Read more 🡒]