TCU spring football notebook: Who’s at quarterback for the Horned Frogs?

Spring football has arrived.

On Saturday, TCU held its first open spring practice of the 2024 college football season.

The Horned Frogs are looking to rebound after a 5-7 season and fail to qualify for the postseason a year after playing in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.

“I just think we just got to have a renewed sense of urgency,” said head coach Sonny Dykes said. “Our job is to push buttons and motivate people and make sure that no one gets too settled in and that’s just the way it has to be, you have to just wake up every day and, and realize you’re not getting this day back and you got to get better.”

Dykes admitted the Horned Frogs lost some of their edge last season and said that can’t happen again and that setting the tone starts with him.

“So we just got to make sure that we’re putting everything we have into it and demanding the most out of everybody,” said Dykes.

New faces

At its first spring practice, TCU was missing both quarterbacks who started for the team last season.

Chandler Morris transferred to North Texas and Josh Hoover is sidelined throughout spring with an undisclosed injury. Hoover’s absence increases the opportunities for newcomers Ken Seals and Hauss Hejny.

“I wish Josh was [here], I felt like he had really worked himself into a good spot, but it’s like anything, now Ken and Hauss both will get additional reps and I know both those guys will make the most of it,” said Dykes.

Hejny and Seals impressed Dykes during the team’s practice. Hejny, a freshman quarterback from Aledo was the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s 2024 offensive player of the year and an early enrollee at TCU.

Dykes was impressed by Hejny’s temperament considering his age.

“Hauss, still ought to be in high school and for him to show the kind of poise and confidence that he had today, I think is certainly indicative of where he’s at,” said Dykes, “He’s got a lot of belief in himself and he’s worked incredibly hard.”

Seals transferred from Vanderbilt after starting 22 career games for the Commodores. He gives TCU much needed experience versus elite competition.

“Experience, and at that position in particular, that’s incredibly important, and you can tell he doesn’t get rattled, just maturity. He’s got a great work ethic, he’s a really good teammate,” said Dykes. “That kind of competitive spirit, it rubs off on other people and so I really love his leadership.

Early standouts

Dykes commended receivers Major Everhart and Cam Cook as players who stood out due to their athleticism.

“Major Everhart looked like, what you want him to look like. I mean to me he looked like a different guy,” said Dykes, “I really liked some things I saw outta Cam Cook as well. Those two are young players that have a lot of speed and playmaking ability and they’ve got to just learn to play fast and I think they took a step in the right direction.”

Everhart enters his sophomore year, after redshirting his freshman year, coming off a season where he had 20 catches for 197 yards while also returning kicks.

Cook, a sophomore from Round Rock, was injured early in his freshman season and played sparingly afterward, notching 58 yards on 16 carries.

Both could be in line for larger roles in the upcoming season.

TCU will hold its next open spring practice on Monday.