TCU’s special teams have given the Frogs a clear edge early this season, and the biggest spark has come from a newcomer who has wasted no time making his mark. John Hoyet Chance, the team’s punter and kickoff specialist, has quickly turned into one of the most reliable pieces on a roster that is now 2-1 and heading into Big 12 play.
Through three games, Chance has averaged 46.5 yards per punt, with a long of 56 yards. He has also placed five punts inside the 20, which leaves him tied for second in the Big 12.
Against Arkansas State last week, he was especially sharp, averaging 52.7 yards per punt. That figure stands as the second-highest single-game punting average by a TCU player since 2001, when Joey Biasatti averaged 52.8 yards per punt.
His impact has been even more obvious on kickoffs. Of his 20 kickoffs this season, 16 have sailed for touchbacks. The only kickoff that did not reach the end zone against UNC came after TCU had already given up a safety.
For the Frogs, this level of production is nothing new for Chance. He arrived at TCU after earning All-Conference USA honors last season at Louisiana Tech, and he has carried that form straight into his new role in Fort Worth.
Chance spoke with the media on Tuesday about the progress he has made, how TCU plans to use him moving forward, why he chose the Frogs and what he hopes to accomplish next.
In Other News...
TCU Gets Timely Boost As Two Key Frogs Trend Toward UCF Return
TCU got a welcome midweek lift as Sonny Dykes said receiver Jordan Dwyer and defensive player Zach Chapman both were back on the practice field Tuesday and are expected to be available when the Horned Frogs meet UCF. Dwyer was working at full speed and should give the offense another reliable weapon, while Chapman brings the kind of experience on defense that can steady a rotation in a big conference matchup.
The Frogs will still keep a close eye on both players as the week goes on, but the trend line is clearly moving in the right direction. For a team trying to stack together important league wins, getting two contributors trending toward a return can matter almost as much as what shows up on the final injury report. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Just Opened A Long-Term Recruiting Battle For Elite Receiver
TCU has jumped into the mix for one of Louisianas more coveted young receivers, extending a scholarship offer to four-star Abbeville High School standout Jacolby Campbell. The Horned Frogs are among a growing list of programs tracking him, and with Campbell already up to 13 offers, the race around him is only getting busier as he works through his high school season.
Campbell is still a long way from making his college choice, with a commitment expected in July or August 2027, which gives schools plenty of time to keep building the relationship. For now, his focus is on sharpening his game and adding to his frame during the offseason, the sort of long-term development plan that makes his recruitment worth watching well beyond the initial offer sheet. [Read more 🡒]
TCUs First Big 12 Road Test Looks Trickier Than It Seemed
TCUs Big 12 opener at Central Florida comes with a little more uncertainty than the calendar might have suggested, and not just because it is the Horned Frogs first true road game of the season. UCF is dealing with an injury at quarterback, with Alonza Barnett unlikely to play and senior Keyone Jenkins expected to get the start, which shifts the focus even more toward an offense built around the ground game and a defense that has tried to create short-field chances for itself.
Duke Watson gives the Knights a rushing threat TCU will have to account for, and that matters in a matchup where the Frogs are already adjusting to conference play away from home. Alex Grinchs defense has leaned into forcing turnovers, so the game may hinge on whether TCU can stay clean with the ball and handle the kind of field-position battle that tends to get tighter once league games begin. [Read more 🡒]