2024 TCU Football Preview: Running Backs

The Horned Frogs will seek to replace 1,200-yard rusher Emani Bailey. Sophomore Cam Cook looks to be next in line.

A large chunk of the TCU offense last season came from running back Emani Bailey, who churned for over 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground for the Horned Frogs. Bailey filled in admirably after TCU lost its top two ball carriers (Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado) to the NFL in 2022, but with Bailey now gone, the Horned Frogs will once again need a new leading rusher to emerge when TCU takes the field for the 2024 campaign.

Although TCU’s running back room is fairly green, there’s no shortage of talent, as the Horned Frogs welcome back several returning players in addition to new faces. TCU saw a coaching change at the running back position over the offseason, with the Horned Frogs hiring former Arkansas running backs coach Jimmy Smith after Anthony Jones Jr. departed for the USC running backs coaching job. With Smith coming to TCU, the Horned Frogs added a Razorback through the transfer portal in Dominique Johnson, who rushed for 785 yards and eight touchdowns over his four years with the Arkansas football team.

Johnson is the only running back TCU added through the transfer portal, but the Horned Frogs did welcome in two true freshmen in four-star recruits Nate Palmer and Jeremy Payne, who will both compete for spots on the depth chart this season. As far as returning players are concerned, TCU brings back two veterans in Trey Sanders and Trent Battle, who were both contributors during the 2023 season. A converted quarterback, Battle has played in 27 games over the last two years, totaling 159 receiving yards on 11 catches as well as 63 rushing yards on 19 carries over that span. The former Alabama transfer Sanders played in all 12 games last year, rushing for six touchdowns and totaling just under 200 yards.

Looking to the first-team offense, all eyes will be on sophomore running back and former four-star recruit Cam Cook, who appears to be in line for the starting role this fall. Cook, who has been taking most of the first-team reps during fall camp, played sparingly during the 2023 campaign, rushing for 58 yards on nine carries in nine games. Cook will have big shoes to fill, as Bailey handled nearly all of the rushing duties for TCU during the second half of the 2023 campaign. But the former Stony Point High School standout has drawn rave reviews from head coach Sonny Dykes, who said Cook could be the best in the Big 12.

Rounding out TCU’s running back room are redshirt freshman Derrick Carroll, brother of linebacker and former four-star recruit Max Carroll, as well as Brant Ahlfinger, Franklin Estrada II and Joe Pitchford.