In a matchup featuring two top 10 teams, the No. 9 TCU Horned Frogs travel to Waco Saturday afternoon to take on the No. 5 Baylor Bears. TCU will look to assert their dominance in the Big 12 with a win against another Top 5 team. Here are three players to watch for both teams.
Baylor
Bryce Petty, Senior, Quarterback
Coming off of his worst performance of the 2014 season against Texas last weekend, Petty will be looking to rebound against TCU. Through his first four games, Petty has thrown nine touchdowns and is averaging 256 yards per game, all the while nursing an injured back that continues to be a concern amongst Baylor fans. After having started the year as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, Petty is looking for an opportunity to show college football fans why he deserves to be on that shortlist. Petty will get his shot to shine on national television this weekend, so look for him to try and take advantage of that opportunity.
KD Cannon, Freshman, Wide Receiver
The Bear’s most dangerous weapon on offense this season, freshman wide receiver KD Cannon is living up to the billing as one of the nation’s best receivers in the class of 2018. With five touchdowns and 527 yards on only 24 catches, Cannon has been efficient and prolific this year. Cannon was ranked the fourth-best receiver out of high school, and if he plays to his potential Saturday, look for him to be a handful for the TCU secondary.
Shock Linwood, Sophomore, Running Back
A week after facing the Big 12 leading rusher Samaje Perine, the Horned Frogs find themselves matched up against the second-best Big 12 running back in sophomore Shock Linwood. Through his first five games, Linwood has carried the ball 90 times for 449 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging just under 90 yards per game on the ground. Since Bryce Petty struggled to find any sort of rhythm against the Longhorns last weekend, don’t be surprised if Linwood gets the ball early and often.
TCU
Deante’ Gray, Junior, Wide Receiver
In his first season as an offensive starter for TCU, Deante’ Gray has established himself as one of Trevone Boykin’s go-to targets through the first four games of the season. Gray has amassed three touchdowns on 16 catches for 196 yards in 2014. While Kolby Listenbee will continue to serve as the deep threat for the Frogs, look for Boykin to put the ball in Gray’s hands with bubble screens and slant routes.
Chris Hackett, Junior, Safety
After two monster throws from Trevor Knight early on in the game against Oklahoma, it appeared that the TCU secondary was in for a long afternoon. However, despite the shaky start, Chris Hackett and the TCU defense settled into the game and were able to limit Knight and the prolific OU offense in the second half. Hackett has racked up an impressive 31 tackles and two interceptions this season, including a fourth quarter pick that helped seal the upset against the Sooners. Hackett will need to be stellar once again if the secondary hopes to keep Baylor out of the endzone.
Trevone Boykin, Junior, Quarterback
It’s hard to ignore the stunning transformation of quarterback Trevone Boykin in 2014. Boykin has rewarded the TCU coaching staff for having faith in his abilities, after the coaches named him the starter over transfer Matt Joeckel. Boykin threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns against Oklahoma, while also scrambling for 77 yards on the ground to lead the Frogs in rushing as well as passing. If Boykin can guide the Frogs to another statement win this weekend, TCU will be the favorites to take home the Big 12 Title.
