TCU 's starting quarterback battle isn't going to be decided before the Horned Frogs open their season Saturday against Samford, with Gary Patterson confirming to the media Tuesday that both incumbent junior Trevone Boykin and transfer senior Matt Joeckel are set to to see the field vs. the FCS Bulldogs.
"We're playing two quarterbacks," Patterson said at his weekly news conference, per the Associated Press. He added the two have been "pretty well even" in practice.
Patterson did say that one of the two had been the better performer in the team's scrimmages and would get the first snaps of the season, but naturally declined to say who that quarterback would be.
Boykin spent much of 2013 locked in a similar quarterback battle with the departed Casey Pachall, finishing the season with 1,198 yards passing, a 7-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and a 6.8 yards-per-attempt average. Joeckel transferred to TCU after earning his degree at Texas A&M and spending multiple seasons as the backup to first Ryan Tannehill and then Johnny Manziel.
Joeckel could have an edge if Patterson and new offensive co-coordinator Sonny Cumbie decide Boykin would be better used to provide a spark to the Frogs' wide receiving corps, which has benefitted from Boykin's addition before. Patterson did say, per the AP, that Boykin would not play at receiver this week.
Depending on how each looks Saturday, the battle between Joeckel and Boykin might not be decided for a few weeks yet; the Frogs play only two games in the season's first four weeks, with a visit from Minnesota Sept. 13 sandwiching byes in Weeks 2 and 4.
