Josh Hoover saw 2023 BYU game as the moment he knew he could play at college level

Even throughout the success Sonny Dykes has had at TCU, the quarterback position has not been too stable. Chandler Morris has begun the last two seasons as the starter before ultimately being replaced on a full-time basis.

Max Duggan took over in 2022, leading the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff and national championship game. Josh Hoover was the latest and is now considered the program’s future.

Hoover was just a second-year player and had only ever attempted one throw in his career. He was eventually needed to start the BYU game in October where there were some nerves heading in. But after TCU got off to a nice start, Hoover gained confidence and knew he could play at the college level.

“I think the BYU game, my first start, just we had a good start, kind of got off hot,” Hoover said at Big 12 Media Days. “We scored a couple touchdowns and that’s when kind of everything settled in and I was like, ‘I got this. I can do this. This is football, what I’ve been doing my whole life.’ Everything slowed down for me, so that was probably the moment.”

Against the Cougars, Hoover threw for 439 yards, four touchdowns, and unfortunately, two interceptions. TCU was able to get the win though and gave the young quarterback hope. The performances continued as Hoover wound up with 2,206 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions on the season with 10 appearances — six of which were starts.

Baylor was the only other win Hoover got as a starter but being a big rivalry, you can buy yourself a lot of time. Everyone in Fort Worth has a ton of confidence in the redshirt sophomore heading into the 2024 season, hoping to get TCU back closer to the 2022 run than a disappointing 2023.

“I’m excited about Josh,” Dykes said about his quarterback. “He’s a really good decision-maker, he’s going to distribute the ball to the right guys.” The players love him, believe in him, have a ton of confidence in him. That’s where it starts. When that guy walks in the room and everybody has his back and believes in him and cares about him, you know, that’s a good starting point.”

TCU will open the season with Stanford, a new ACC school. Alongside cross-city rival SMU, Hoover will get a nice test before getting into a grueling Big 12 schedule.