Seniors Savion Williams & JP Richardson return to lead the pass catcher unit in 2024
Next up in our season preview series is a look at the wide receiver room that took a bit of a step back in 2023 but is returning its top two players from last season while adding big talent from the transfer portal. The WR unit coached by Malcolm Kelly & Doug Meacham is deep with experience and production and looks prime to deliver improved results in the second season under Offensive Coordinator Kendal Briles.
Savion Williams returns for a fifth season with the Horned Frogs after a career-best year in 2023. leading the squad in receiving yards. A four-star in the 2020 recruiting class along with Quentin Johnston, the Marshall, TX native had a breakout campaign as a full-time starter. His best game of the season came against eventual Big 12 Champion and CFP Semifinalist Texas Longhorns ,showing that true WR1 ability, with 164 yards and a TD on 11 receptions. At 6-foot-5, 225-pound, Williams has the ability to be a matchup nightmare and major weapon every week. After receiving Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2023, expect Williams to be in contention for all-conference honors by the end of the year, despite being left off the preseason team.
Paired with Williams atop the depth chart is JP Richardson who transferred from Oklahoma State ahead of the 2023 season where he’d post career-best 536 receiving yards. His top performance of the season came in Josh Hoover’s first career start at QB, taking six receptions for 104 yards and a TD. Richardson is often listed in the slot, but finds plenty of success on the outside as well.
Others returning on the outside include a trio of seniors in Blake Nowell, Dylan Wright, and Jack Bech. Brought to Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas, former LSU transfer Bech may be the leader of that group after an injury-hampered 2023 produced just 12 receptions for 146 yards. There is major returning talent in the slot as well, with Major Everhart, JoJo Earle, and Jordyn Bailey each looking at bigger roles in 2024 from the inside receiver spot. Everhart has been a consistent reliable contributor when given opportunities, but look for a breakout from Bailey, brother of former TCU star running back Emani Bailey. Preserving a redshirt by playing just four games in 2023, Bailey delivered 103 yards and a TD, good for 13th on the team despite the limited action.
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TCU welcomes a pair of true freshmen wide outs with major talent upside in four-star, and top-ranked prospect from TCU’s 2024 Class, Gekyle Baker and three-star Dozie Ezukanma. Given the depth at the position, the duo may have limited opportunities in 2024, but are key building blocks for the future. The Horned Frogs lost former top WR recruits DJ Allen (UTSA) & Cordale Russell (Colorado) in the transfer portal, but TCU also brought in a pair of top transfers to bolter the wide receiver room: Braylon James from Notre Dame and Eric McAlister from Boise State. James ranked as a four-star transfer after spending a redshirt season in South Bend. McAlister was having a breakout season with the Broncos before leaving the program in November, with 873 yards on 47 receptions in just nine games and has already shown flashes during fall camp
DAWG. @EricMcalister9 https://t.co/F3eTXPgt00 pic.twitter.com/0gp74DOLc8
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) August 2, 2024