Decade in Review: TCU Football’s all-decade offense

2019 is coming to a close today and with it, a decade. Thus, we have an opportunity to take a look back at the best players of the decade. It would be one thing to just put a list together, but I’m taking a different route. Instead, I’ll be constructing starting lineups for men’s basketball, baseball, and football, using the best players of the decade in each sport. We’ll also name a Player of the Decade.

You can check out the men’s basketball all-decade team here.

You can check out the baseball all-decade team here.

This post is dedicated to the 2010-19 TCU Football offense, so let’s jump right in.

Quarterback: Trevone Boykin (2011-15)

Let’s be very clear - Andy Dalton walked so Trevone Boykin could run, and if he had one more season in this decade he’d be in this spot. Dalton kicked off the decade with an undefeated season and Rose Bowl victory. Without him and that team TCU probably doesn’t wind up in the Big 12.

But when we talk about what defined the decade it was Boykin’s shifting, faking, flipping, opposing-head-coach-high-fiving, “how did he do that?” play-making ability. He’s also TCU’s all-time leader in passing yards (both single season and career) and passing touchdowns (game, season, and career).

Honorable Mentions: Andy Dalton, Kenny Hill

Running Back: Aaron Green (2013-15)

Green’s most memorable moment from a fan’s perspective will probably be catching that tipped pass in the back of the end zone to beat Texas Tech in 2015. But he also ran for 1,272 yards that season - the sixth most yards in a single season in TCU history. He inches out the No. 10 rusher (in yards) in TCU history Matthew Tucker for this list.

Honorable Mentions: Matthew Tucker, Darius Anderson

Wide Receiver: Josh Doctson (2013-15)

The GOAT. Doctson leads TCU all-time in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, while also holding the single-season and single-game records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His one-handed catch against Minnesota was just the start of the most decorated receiving career in TCU history.

Honorable Mention: Jeremy Kerley

Wide Receiver: Josh Boyce (2009-12)

Boyce’s big-play ability transcended his quarterbacks. He caught touchdowns from Andy Dalton, Casey Pachall, and Trevone Boykin during his career, where he finished Top 5 all time in receiving touchdowns (2nd), receiving yards (3rd), and receptions (4th). It’s hard to say what play defined his time at TCU, but for me it was his two-point conversion reception against Boise State in 2011. Or maybe his 93-yard touchdown catch against Utah earlier that season.

Honorable Mention: KaVontae Turpin, Kolby Listenbee

Wide Receiver: Jalen Reagor (2017-19)

In the midst of all the hype, TCU fans will probably be hung up on what could have been with Reagor for a while. He seemed primed to break all of Doctson’s records when he stepped on campus, but quarterback inconsistencies and drops dragged his career stats down. “Down” being he’s Top 5 all time in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, rather than at the top.

Honorable Mentions: Desmon White, Ty Slanina

Tight End: Pro Wells

Is there some recency bias here? Maybe. But every other tight end to catch a pass this decade combined for 10 receiving touchdowns. Wells had 5 this season. His 17 receptions were by far the most for a tight end in a single season this decade, considering only three others broke double-digit receptions for their careers.

Honorable Mentions: Logan Brock, Cole Hunt

Left Tackle: Joseph Noteboom

Boom was an incredible left tackle for TCU, protecting Boykin and Hill’s blind side for years with incredible efficiency, finishing his career with 40 consecutive starts. He earned an invitation to the NFL combine after the 2017 season, and is currently with the Los Angeles Rams.

Honorable Mention: Tayo Fabuluje

Left Guard: Kyle Dooley

Dooley was a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2011, and he started 40 games at left tackle for the Frogs in his career.

Honorable Mention: Cordell Iwuagwu

Center: Joey Hunt

His flowing locks are still glorious to this day, and his ability to be the driving force for a successful offensive line is something TCU has been searching for ever since he left.

Honorable Mention: Austin Schlottman

Right Guard: Matt Pryor

Pryor was a gigantic body that played several different spots along the line during his time at TCU. He gets the nod at right guard because he played there the most, and was incredibly efficient along the line.

Honorable Mention: Blaize Foltz

Right Tackle: Lucas Niang

Niang getting the nod over a Super Bowl winning tackle might seem crazy, but think about this: Niang didn’t allow a sack for more than two seasons’ worth of games. That’s absolutely insane.

Honorable Mention: Halapoulivaati Vaitai

TCU Football Offensive Player of the Decade: Josh Doctson

Has to be Doc here. To think that injuries kept him from setting an even higher bar for other receivers to try and reach is insane, but his combination of athleticism, great hands, and good speed, plus what TCU was able to accomplish when he was on campus, all leads to him getting the nod for offensive player of the decade.