The Horned Frogs will have a new starting QB for the first time in two regular seasons and transfer Jaden Craig is ready to lead TCU.
TCU wrapped up last season in memorable fashion with a thrilling comeback victory over USC in the Alamo Bowl. The Horned Frogs won that game with backup senior quarterback Ken Seals under center after starter Josh Hoover announced he would enter the transfer portal.
Following the departure of Hoover to Indiana, TCU turns to its first new starting QB in two regular seasons. The Horned Frogs will look to former Harvard QB Jaden Craig to replicate the success they found in their bowl game without Hoover.
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After spending three seasons with the Crimson, Craig is ready to step into the leadership position and showcase his talents at a power conference school. While he spent his time in the lower-level FCS, he tallied numbers that would be impressive on any squad. Craig threw for over 6,000 yards and tossed 52 touchdowns so far in his career.
He has yet to play a true game with the Frogs but with spring practices underway Craig got to show head coach Sonny Dykes and company what he can bring to the table. It seems that this first impression was a good one, as Dykes had encouraging words for his new starting quarterback.
“The great thing about Jaden is there’s also a little bit of extra dynamic when it comes to size and strength. I mean, he’s 6’3’’, 230 pounds...He’s played a lot of snaps; he’s got a lot of skins on the wall. He’s got a big arm, and again, just his physical size and strength is something that we really necessarily haven’t had, and so it gives us a little bit of dimension than what we’ve had," he explained.
His physical attributes are obviously very appealing to his new head coach but his experience also seems to be a key factor in bringing Craig to Fort Worth. It makes sense that TCU was more keen on landing a veteran after being committed to Hoover for three seasons.
Craig will still have to adapt to a new system at TCU, but early impressions show there may not be as many growing pains for the seasoned passer. That's good news for TCU, as it looks to keep pace in the makeup of the new Big 12.
The Horned Frogs have been factors in the Big 12 title race most years since joining the conference, including a co-championship in 2014 and two trips to the conference championship game after it was reinstated.
Since that latest trip in 2022, TCU has not returned to the peak of the conference and narrowly fallen short of 10 wins in back-to-back seasons. Craig looks to keep the Horned Frogs in the mix and, hopefully, return them to the highest stage in the highly competitive Big 12.