Matt Joeckel

‘Drastic improvement’ leaves TCU hopeful leading WR will play vs. WVU

By John TaylorOct 29, 2014, 12:52 PM EDT
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It appears TCU has dodged a rather significant injury bullet.

During Saturday’s humiliation of Texas Tech, wide receiver Josh Doctson rolled an ankle in the third quarter and did not return to the game.  Doctson hasn’t practiced since, although head coach Gary Patterson has seen what he described as “drastic improvement” and is optimistic the receiver will be available for the West Virginia game Saturday in Morgantown.

“It’s drastic improvement,” Patterson said. “He’ll make the trip.”

Speculation had been making the rounds that Doctson suffered the dreaded high-ankle sprain, which usually sidelines a player for a couple of weeks or more.  Citing a team source, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that’s not the case.

Doctson currently leads the Horned Frogs in receptions (35), receiving yards (573) and receiving touchdowns (seven).  In a week 8 win over Oklahoma State, Doctson fell one yard shy of tying the school’s single-game yardage record of 226.

The news wasn’t all positive on the injury front, however, as No. 2 quarterback Matt Joeckel has seen his season come to an end.  The transfer from Texas A&M suffered a knee injury in the win over Tech.

This is Joeckel’s final season of eligibility, which means his collegiate career is over.

“It’s a shame,” Patterson said. “We gave him an ovation in the meeting on Sunday because of everything he did for us as a team, the way he came in, the way he helped Trevone [Boykin].”

Freshman Zach Allen will move into the role of Boykin’s primary backup.

Trevone Boykin’s wrist IS injured… but the TCU QB will play anyway

By John TaylorOct 16, 2014, 10:10 AM EDT
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It appears there was at least a morsel of validity to what turned out to be an erroneous report earlier this week.

Tuesday, it was reported that TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin had suffered a significant injury to his left (non-throwing) wrist and would miss 4-6 weeks.  That day, though, Boykin was practicing as head coach Gary Patterson vehemently denied the veracity of the report.

After practice Wednesday, however, Patterson did acknowledge that Boykin injured his wrist in the wild 61-58 loss to Baylor this past weekend.  The coach, though, stated that his starter will play in this Saturday’s game against Oklahoma State.

“It will be where he can manage it and do the things he needs to do,” Patterson said in confirming Boykin’s availability. “He’s a tough kid.”

Through the first half of the season, Boykin is one of the most improved players in the country. In 2013, Boykin tossed as many interceptions (seven) as touchdowns (seven); through five games this season, he has 11 scoring touches and just two interceptions. He’s tossing a pick every 154 pass attempts this season compared to one every 25 attempts in 2013.

Should Boykin suffer a setback between now and Saturday, Texas A&M transfer Matt Joeckel would get the start against the Cowboys.

TCU QB Trevone Boykin not injured and did practice

By Kevin McGuireOct 14, 2014, 4:50 PM EDT
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Despite some confusion regarding his status Tuesday afternoon on the Internet, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin practiced with the team today. His status with the team remains unchanged as TCU prepares for its next game. Earlier in the day it was reported Boykin had undergone surgery on his wrist and recovery would keep him out for anywhere between four and six weeks. This turned out to be a report based on some bad information.

Boykin is one of the top offensive players in the Big 12 this season, and he has put on a great show the past couple of weeks against Oklahoma and Baylor. Boykin has thrown for 1,463 yards and 11 touchdowns, easily putting him on pace for career highs in each category. In his efforts against the preseason Big 12 favorites, Oklahoma and Baylor, Boykin passed for 605 yards and three touchdowns with just one interception. His completion percentage has dipped significantly in those games, but his impact on the offense is clear.

TCU plays Oklahoma State this week after letting one get away from them at Baylor on Saturday. If, for whatever reason, Boykin is unavailable at any point for TCU, it would be likely Matt Joeckel gets a shot to run the offense. The former Texas A&M quarterback transferred to TCU and has appeared in two games this season.

Alright, now how does Jameis Winston’s half-suspension affect the gambling line?

By Zach BarnettSep 17, 2014, 5:32 PM EDT
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We’ve covered how Jameis Winston’s have-fun-explaining-this-one-to-your-grandmother half-game suspension affects Saturday night’s tilt between No. 1 Florida State and No. 22 Clemson on the field, and how it alters his chase for a second Heisman Trophy. Now it’s time for the important stuff: how does this affect the line?

According to TomahawkNation.com proprietor/SB Nation gambling expert Bud Elliott: not that much. The defending champion ‘Noles are still favorites, just not quite as heavy as before.

After hovering around three touchdowns before Wednesday morning’s news, Florida State is a consensus 16.5 or 17-point favorite. With an over/under at 60.5 points, Las Vegas expects a Florida State win hovering somewhere in the neighborhood of 38-21.

Oddly enough, this game has a very recent doppleganger. A year ago, the reigning Heisman winner was suspended for one half, and replaced by a little-used back-up. Back then, Matt Joeckel completed 14-of-19 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown in leading No. 7 Texas A&M to a 28-21 halftime lead over visiting and future Conference USA champion Rice. Johnny Manziel came on in relief, threw for 94 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 19 yards, leading the Aggies to a 52-31 win. The spread was 28. Make of that what you will.

Florida State has beaten Clemson in two straight games, rallying from a 31-21 third quarter deficit to score four unanswered touchdowns in route to a 49-37 win on Sept. 22, 2012, and absolutely ripping the Tigers for a 51-14 final on Oct. 19, 2013. Both times, Clemson was undefeated and ranked in the top 10 nationally. This time around, Clemson is hanging on to its Top 25 status after falling 45-21 to then-No. 12 Georgia on Aug. 30.

While Brent Venables and the Clemson defense figure to throw the book (and everything else they can grab) at backup-turned-emergency-starter Sean Maguire and his 26 career passes, the Florida State defense is still intact and facing the nation’s No. 66 rated passer, Cole Stoudt (and freshman phenom Deshaun Watson, whenever Dabo Swinney and Chad Morris decide to play him.)

Latest TCU depth chart offers no QB clarity

By John TaylorAug 25, 2014, 1:08 PM EDT
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The waiting game on Gary Patterson pulling the trigger on naming a starting quarterback continues. Or, as it goes, the “Season of OR” continues in earnest.

On a depth chart released Sunday, the starting quarterback for the Horned Frogs was listed as “Trevone Boykin OR Matt Joeckel.” Boykin and Joeckel have been involved in a too-close-to-call competition since summer workouts and on into summer camp.

It doesn’t appear the Horned Frogs’ head coach is any mood to offer up any kind of clarity ahead of the opener against Samford, either.

Boykin has started 15 games at quarterback the past two seasons, but ended 2013 playing wide receiver the final four games. He was the only player in the country to record a 100-yard rushing game, 100-yard receiving game and 200-yard passing game.

Joeckel, meanwhile, transferred to TCU from Texas A&M this past April.

In 2013, Joeckel, the brother of former A&M All-American and 2013 No.2 overall NFL draft pick Luke Joeckel, served as Johnny Manziel’s primary backup with the Aggies.  A three-star member of the Aggies’ 2010 recruiting class, Joeckel was the No. 29 pro-style quarterback in that class coming out of high school in Arlington, Tex.

As a graduate transfer, Joeckel is eligible immediately.