Led by All-America candidate Josh Boyce (6-0, 203, Jr.), TCU returns three of its top four receivers from a year ago.
Boyce, who appears on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the nation's top wide receiver, totaled 61 receptions, 998 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He was two yards shy of just the second 1,000-yard campaign in TCU history.
Boyce's 15 touchdown catches in just two seasons leave him only three scoring grabs shy of becoming TCU's all-time leader (17, Mike Renfro, 1974-77; 17, Cory Rodgers, 2003-05).
A native of Copperas Cove, Texas, Boyce set career-highs with 163 receiving yards and three touchdowns on five receptions in the 36-35 win at Boise State. He also found the end zone on the go-ahead 2-point pass with 1:05 to play. Boyce had a career-high nine catches at Baylor.
Skye Dawson (5-9, 183, Sr.) had a personal-best 45 receptions for 500 yards and five touchdowns last season. His 42-yard fourth-quarter grab for the go-ahead score in TCU's Poinsettia Bowl victory over Louisiana Tech earned him Offensive Most Valuable Player honors in the game.
As a member of the TCU track and field program in the spring, Dawson earned All-America accolades on the Horned Frogs' Mountain West champion 4x100 relay team. He was also a past MW indoor champion in the 60 meters with a time of 6.69. He also had a 10.29 mark in the 100 meters.
Brandon Carter (5-11, 161, So.) made a major impact as a true freshman last season. He was third on the Horned Frogs with 23 receptions for 352 yards and three touchdowns. His breakout game came in the victory at Boise State, when he totaled four receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns. His leaping 25-yard grab with 1:05 remaining pulled TCU within a point and set the stage for the game-winning 2-point conversion.
Carter also averaged a team-best 13.7 yards per punt return. He appears on the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, recognizing college football's most versatile player.
David Porter (6-0, 195, So.) and Cam White (6-2, 190, So.) were the other true freshmen to play at wide receiver last season. They were also teammates at DeSoto (Texas) High School.
Porter was an immediate contributor, catching a 19-yard scoring pass at Baylor on his first collegiate snap. He also had a 21-yard touchdown reception the next week at Air Force. He totaled seven receptions for 109 yards, while White contributed six catches for 90 yards.
LaDarius Brown (6-4, 220, RFr.) and David Bush (5-9, 180, RFr.) redshirted last season. Brown was a four-star signee from Waxahachie, Texas. He was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 4 athlete in the nation and the No. 53 overall player. Bush is from Tyler, Texas, where he was the 4A District 7 Most Valuable Player.
Kolby Listenbee (6-1, 185, Fr.) was an early enrollee who will compete for playing time this fall. A quarterback at Bowie High School in Arlington, Listenbee was rated the No. 31 athlete in the nation and No. 8 in Texas.
BY THE NUMBERS:
1- Horned Frogs (Josh Doctson) to score a touchdown against TCU last season (Doctson, who will sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules, had a 7-yard scoring reception as part of three catches for 43 yards for Wyoming against TCU in 2011)
2- Yards shy Josh Boyce was last year from posting just the second 1,000-yard season in TCU history (Reggie Harrell, 1,012, 2003)
3- True freshmen (Brandon Carter, David Porter, Cam White) to see action at wide receiver for TCU last season; Number of touchdown receptions needed by Josh Boyce to become the Horned Frogs' all-time leader
6.69- Skye Dawson's time in the 60 meters when he won the 2010 Mountain West indoor championship
77 - Receptions to lead the Big 12 by TCU wide receivers coach Trey Haverty when he was a senior at Texas Tech in 2004