TCU football preview: Can TCU’s rushing attack be more consistent in 2024?

On paper, TCU had a productive ground game in 2023 as Emani Bailey became the football program’s second straight 1,000-yard rusher following Kendre Miller.

While Bailey was able to pile up yards, the stats don’t paint the full picture of a rushing attack that was often times inconsistent, especially in short yardage situations.

“You look at last year, our numbers weren’t that bad running the football,” Sonny Dykes said at the beginning of training camp. “But we didn’t run it as well in critical situations and also we didn’t have a lot of big plays. The year before we had a lot of long touchdown runs and we just didn’t that kind of personnel last year.”

The Horned Frogs are optimistic there’s more big play potential in the room this year led by sophomore running Cam Cook. The room is deeper than a year ago, but still unproven.

Ahead of the season opener on Aug 30 at Stanford, here’s a breakdown of TCU’s running backs:

The starter

RB1: Cam Cook

A four-star recruit in the Class of 2023, Cook has been the unquestioned starting running back going back to the spring. He’s a nice blend of versatility and explosiveness. He produced numerous runs of over 20 yards and was also a factor in the passing game. While not the biggest running back, Cook has underrated toughness and is still capable of converting those third-and-short situations.

Still, it’s the big play potential that has Dykes so eager for see what Cook can do.

“I think the big thing Cam’s got is big play potential,” Dykes said. “Cam is one of those players that is capable of a 60, 70 yard touchdown at any point.”

Next up

RB2: Trey Sanders

Rotation: Dominique Johnson, Nate Palmer, Jeremy Payne

Notable injuries: Trent Battle

Breakdown: Sanders was a big-time pickup last season as a former five-star recruit from Alabama. However, Sanders rushed for just 176 yards and was more of a goal line running back behind Bailey. Sanders quietly put together a solid camp with multiple touchdowns and big runs working with the second and third team offenses. He seems quicker than a season ago and has been the ideal veteran for a young running back room.

Johnson was a late add to the room from Arkansas. He knows running backs coach Jimmy Smith well and rushed for 498 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. He has potential to be a solid contributor, but it’s unclear where he stands in the rotation. He’s a bigger back and ideally will give TCU another physical runner between the tackles like Sanders.

Palmer and Payne are two freshmen running backs that have shown promise. Both need more seasoning in the weight room, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if either ends up being the third back in the rotation. Palmer runs hard and usually required multiple defenders to bring him down during training camp. Payne got a chance to run with the first team when Cook was being held out of practice to rest a lingering hamstring, which shows much the staff thinks of him as a player.

Finally, Battle appeared to have the inside track to being the second back, but he suffered a lower body injury during TCU’s scrimmage on Aug. 9 and is likely out for an extended period of time. If he’s able to return this season, Battle is another veteran that can ease Cook’s load.

Best case scenario: TCU’s ground game becomes more consistent as Cook becomes the third straight 1,000-yard rusher under Dykes. Sanders is able to have his most productive collegiate season with over 400 yards rushing while one of Payne or Palmer emerges as the next man up for 2025.

Worst case scenario: TCU’s running game is a mirror image of last season. Cook manages to put up decent yardage, but the Horned Frogs struggle to gain those yards in the red zone leading to another year of an offense leaving too many points on the field.